STUDENTS

First Aid/Emergency Care

A. Generally

As mandated in the legal reference to this policy each school in the division shall have a minimum of two full-time staff members who have attended and successfully completed courses approved by the State Board of Health in all of the following: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), choking rescue (Heimlich maneuver) basic first aid, and the assistance with the administration of glucagon/insulin if one or more students is diagnosed as having diabetes attends such school.

It is imperative that all schools have persons on school grounds throughout each day who have had this training.

B. Procedural Guidelines

1. Each principal shall determine the number of staff members who have successfully completed such courses.

2. In those instances where there are fewer than two qualified staff members volunteers shall be solicited for training programs.

3. Course fees and travel expenses related thereto for training and/or retraining will be paid by the school board.

4. Students, school staff and the central office shall be made aware of the identity of the individuals concerned.

5. Principals may exercise discretion in providing compensatory free time from routine nonclass duties for staff carried on their emergency team rosters.

C. Reports to the School Board

The superintendent shall advise the school board when the division is in compliance with this standard for accreditation.

D. Life-sustaining Emergency Care

1. School nurses and appropriately trained staff members, whose responsibilities include the provision of life-sustaining emergency care, shall take all reasonable steps to provide such care to any student on school grounds in need of life-sustaining, emergency care. Access to emergency medical services (rescue) shall be handled in accordance with the regular school board policies and regulations and the Health Services Manual to secure prompt transportation of the student to hospital facilities.

2. Students, whose parents, guardians, or physicians have indicated their student should not be resuscitated, will also be accommodated with life-sustaining emergency care and transported, if necessary, to a nearby medical facility. In all situations, and in accordance with school board policy and/or regulations and the Health Services Manual, parents/legal guardians will be immediately contacted.

3. For the purpose of this policy, "life-sustaining emergency care" means any procedure or intervention applied by the school nurse or any appropriately trained school staff that may prevent a student from expiring who, without such procedure or intervention, faces a risk of imminent death. Examples of life-sustaining emergency care include (but are not limited to): efforts to stop bleeding, choking rescue, (Heimlich maneuver), rescue breathing, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the administration of glucagons/insulin if one or more students is diagnosed as having diabetes attends such school. It will be the intent of school personnel to maintain the comfort level of the student while awaiting the arrival of emergency medical services (rescue).

Editor's Note
The Virginia Beach City Public Schools Health Services Manual is provided in each school clinic as a guide for health care services.

Legal Reference:

Virginia Board of Education Regulations, "Governing the Accreditation of Public Schools in Virginia" at § § VAC 20-131-260C School Facilities and Safety." "Each school shall have contingency plans for emergencies that include staff certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Heimlich maneuver, and emergency first aid. In addition, the school administration shall ensure that the School has: 1. Written procedures to follow in emergencies such as fire, injury, illness, and violent or threatening behavior. The plan shall be outlined in the student handbook and discussed with staff and students during the first week of each school year; 2. Space for the proper care of students who become ill." (July 2, 2001)

Va. Code §§ 22-1-274.1 and 22.1-274.2.
Policy 5-55 - Health Services/Health Services Manual.

Adopted by School Board: June 15, 1993 (Effective August 14, 1993)
Amended by School Board: July 19, 1994
Amended by School Board: January 8, 2002