Emergency Response Planning Q&A

What are the recommended components of a school medical emergency response plan?

• Effective and efficient communication;
• Coordinated and practiced response plan;
• Risk reduction;
• Training and equipment for first aid and CPR;
• Implementation of a lay rescuer AED program in schools with established need.

How should schools prepare to deal with injuries?

Part of a school medical emergency response plan should include training in basic first aid and CPR for teachers, school nurses, physicians, athletic trainers and ideally students as well. Immediate first aid can help limit the potential for an injury to progress to the point of cardiac arrest. CPR, especially rescue breathing, may also be used to treat conditions such as severe asthma attacks.

Will organizations come to my school and assist me in developing a School Medical Emergency Response Plan?

Most organizations believe that the development of a specific school policy, regulation or plan is best left to the individual school. When used as a resource, scientific papers such as the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Medical Emergency Response Plan for Schools, include the majority of information needed to develop a school medical emergency response plan. Organizations such as the AHA and the American Red Cross (ARC) can also provide additional support to local efforts. These training organizations can be a source for CPR and AED training and many can also assist in the development of protocols for a response plan.

What local resources might a school tap into as they develop their plan?

Local resources include the local ambulance service, physician offices, Police Department,

Fire Department, county and town health departments, etc. Schools should also examine their current emergency plans and materials that may be available from the school district’s administrative office.

Are there templates or sample plans for schools to use as a model for medical emergency response plans?

The UIL web site includes model medical emergency response plans developed by the AHA to use in the development of a school plan. Schools may use these as a starting point and include those aspects critical and unique to their own program’s success. The model plans include topics relevant only to emergency care or first aid and not the routine administration of a student’s prescription medication. Model plans from other associations could also be acceptable for use by schools.

How much will implementing a Medical Response Plan cost the schools?

The costs of implementing a School Medical Emergency Response Plan will vary based upon the medical equipment available (such as an AED), the amount of training needed to provide coverage throughout the facility and the materials needed to implement the program. Many schools already have a medical emergency response plan in place, but simply need to reevaluate or revise it to reflect current information.

Why can't we just call 911?

There is a very good chance emergency medical services (EMS) cannot respond fast enough to save someone in cardiac arrest. In fact, the national average response time is 10-12 minutes, so even the best EMS responders could have difficulty arriving in time. Besides traffic, consider the time needed to make it to a patient's side on a remote athletic field or in a crowded auditorium, for example.

Sources: American Heart Association, Cardiac Science Corporation