Whenever an individual is injured or becomes ill, you need to respond promptly and properly to ensure the individual receives the appropriate medical attention.

If a serious injury or illness occurs on campus,

• immediately CALL 911
• Call the Main Office at 377-9400. Give your name; describe the nature of the medical problem, and the campus location of the victim.
• Ask the victim “Are you okay?” and “What’s wrong?”
• If you must give First Aid, ask victim for consent first
  • Consent can be expressed (verbally or with a nodding OK)
  • Or consent can be implied (if victim is unresponsive, consent can be implied for life threatening condition.
• Check breathing and pulse and give artificial respiration or CPR if necessary.
• Control serious bleeding by applying direct pressure on the wound.
• DO NOT move him or her unless it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
• Send someone to front entrance of the building to direct EMS personnel to the victim.
• If the victim is unconscious and still breathing, turn him or her on one side. Do not put anything in the victim’s mouth.
• Look for emergency ID, gather information from all witnesses, and give all information to the emergency response personnel arriving on the scene.
• Keep the victim still and comfortable. Have the victim lie down if necessary. Keep the victim conscious and calm.
• If they are unconscious, protect the victim from further injury. Remove furniture and other items from around the victim.
• Try to determine the extent of the injury or probable cause of illness.
• Reassure the victim and assist the victim until help arrives.

First Aid supplies & locations

Wall mounted first aid kits will be placed strategically around campus. The safety committee will take the responsibility to maintain and stock the kit before the end of each fiscal year. No medications will be stored in first aid kits. Recommended locations:

• Toepke Center foyer
• Custodian Hallway entrance
• Ullman Center copy room
• Ullman Center Welding Area
• Student Housing
• CommonsScience labs

Snake Bite

• Keep calm and remain still
• Call 911
• Try to identify the snake species for emergency responders
• Wash the bite area and remove any constrictive jewelry or clothing

Symptoms or signs of a bite:

• Puncture marks on skin
• Feel pain or burning at bite site
• Redness and swelling at bite site
• Depending on species; difficulty breathing, numbness or muscle paralysis, weakness or confusion

Do not:

• Do not try to suck out the venom
• Do not cut across the fang holes attempting to remove the venom
• Do not put a tourniquet on the limb
• Do not put ice on the bite area

Preventive measures:

• Stay away from areas known to have snakes
• If you see a snake, back away and then reverse your direction, watching for other snakes
• Leave the snake alone, 60-70% of bites were provoked by the person (trying to capture, harass or kill the snake)
• Stay away from large rocks, underbrush areas or other areas where snake may live
• Snakes are most active at night, although they may be encountered at any time
• Never handle a dead snake. Reflex strikes with venom can occur for several hours after death