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Medical Care of Students: General and Emergency

In the event of student injury or illness, priority shall be given to the immediate care of the student, and the following actions shall be taken:

  • The school nurse, if available, shall evaluate the student's condition and provide appropriate medical care
  • If the school nurse is not available, the health assistant or principal’s designee shall provide first aid. First aid guidelines in the “New Mexico School Health Manual” shall be followed.
  • Attempt shall be made to verbally notify the parents/legal guardians of a student accident or illness. Schools shall keep Emergency Information cards on file (electronic and physical) for each student.
    *Note: These actions also apply to suspected drug or alcohol overdose.

In any situation requiring medical care beyond first aid:

  • The Emergency Medical Service or paramedics, 911 shall be called immediately for such conditions as profuse bleeding, cessation or obstruction of breathing, deep shock, head injury with deep unconsciousness, electric shock, heart attack or any other life threatening condition.
  • Parents/legal guardians shall be responsible for ambulance and emergency room fees.
  • Students may be transported by car if the medical condition is not life threatening, yet beyond simple first aid treatment. The vehicle owner shall carry insurance in compliance with New Mexico state statute.

Any urgent situation resulting from an accident or requiring emergency medical care services shall be reported on a Student Accident Report. The form shall be submitted to Albuquerque Public Schools Risk Management and a copy placed in the student’s cumulative record. If applicable, a copy of the Student Accident Form should be attached to the Major Incident Report, and distributed.

A student requiring additional medical care shall not be sent home until a parent/legal guardian has been verbally contacted and the student can be personally supervised by a responsible adult.

Appropriate personnel shall document all care, calls and parent/legal guardian contacts.

Risk Management shall collect and analyze the data from student accident reports so that safety hazards can be identified and corrected.

Administrative Position:   

  • Assistant Superintendent for School and Community Support

Department Director:   

  • Director of Health and Wellness/Manager of Nursing Services

References

Legal Cross Ref.:           

  • New Mexico School Health Manual

Board Policy Cross Ref.:    

Procedural Directive Cross Ref.:

Forms:                   

NSBA/NEPN Classification: JLCE

Revised: May 1995
Revised: April 1996
Revised: May 1997
Reviewed: September 24, 2010
Reviewed: October 11, 2010
Revised: October 15, 2010