Liabilities and Class Emergencies
Safety in Classes
Both the Mission statement and the Risk Statement state
that every effort will be made to provide a safe environment in which students
may participate in activities. This promise must take precedence over all
other teaching considerations. Careful supervision of equipment, facilities,
and individuals in activity is absolutely essential. Screening of a student’s
ability is recommended if the lack of certain skills might put the student
in jeopardy. Health screening is also recommended if the instructor suspects
that a student may be putting him/herself or others in jeopardy by participating.
All lessons must be carefully planned in advance taking into consideration
any safety concerns. See “Liability Proofing Your Lesson/Practice Plans” by
Gary Gray.
The Risk Statement must be provided to the student as part of the Course
Outline. In addition instructors are to identify specific risks, hazards,
or potential
dangers involved with the activity. The act of informing students is a critical
factor in litigation should that ever happen. Another factor in litigation
is whether the instructor acted in a reasonably prudent manner. A third
factor is
whether the students were adequately prepared for activity.
Certifications
All PAC instructors are to hold a current Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) certification from a recognized, reputable agency.
Depending on the instructor’s
background, a First Aid certification may also be required. Instructors
with academic preparation that is more advanced than Red Cross First Aid
will not
be required to hold a current First Aid; however, instructors are expected
to remain current in emergency care procedures. It is recommended that the
First
Aid certification be completed by all instructors. A Xerox copy of all
certifications must be on file in the PAC office.
Emergencies
See “Emergency
Response,” a handout from the OSU Safety
Handbook. More specific for PAC instructors are
the following guidelines:
-
If the emergency is life-threatening have another
student dial 9-911 from the nearest phone. Assuming that the instructor
is the most qualified
person,
he/she
will stay with the victim and provide care. The caller must provide
the building location, the type of emergency, and information on
the condition
of the
victim, i.e. if he/she is bleeding, breathing, has a heart beat.
The caller always
hangs up last then immediately calls the building cage personnel
and informs them that
911 has been called. The equipment issue personnel will meet
the ambulance.
-
If the injury/illness is not life-threatening, the instructor
will
administer appropriate first aid and determine if the student
should immediately see
a physician. If so, another student will call security and
direct them to the
location of
the injured student. The cage personnel must also be notified.
Security will transport the student to the Student Health Center.
If the student
chooses
not to go to the Health Center the instructor must carefully
monitor the student and recommend the most appropriate action. It
may be
advisable to have another
student assist the injured student after class. Security
personnel will not assist
an injured student and will not transport students with loss
of consciousness, dislocated joints, excessive bleeding, or if, in
the opinion of the
officer, the student’s condition would be affected
negatively by transporting.
-
Following class the instructor
must immediately complete
the Accident form. After the student completes the back
of the form,
it is put
in the coordinator’s
box. A follow up inquiry of the student’s condition
should be done by either the instructor or the PAC secretary.
It is
recommended that the instructor carry
blank forms to class.
-
Following all injuries the instructor
should review the situation and document contributing
factors. If the injury
could have been
avoided appropriate changes
must immediately be made by the instructor. The PAC
coordinator is to
be informed as soon as possible of any injury/illness
that required transportation by security
or ambulance.
-
During orientation meetings instructors
will be given directions on proper handling of body fluid loss.
First Aid Boxes/Ice/Telephone
Ice machines are available in Langton,
across from room 200 plastic bags and ice scoops are provided next
to the ice machine.
Use of the scoop helps prevent contamination of the ice. First aid
boxes are located in all activity areas. Instructors are to inform the
equipment
room personnel after items have been consumed. Instructors of outdoor
classes are to carry a first aid pack with them to the field. It is
the instructor’s
responsibility to locate the nearest telephone, first aid box, and
ice machine. It is best if the instructor carries a cellular phone.
Instructor Injuries
For information on what to do in case of an instructor
emergency, go to General
Instructor Responsibilities.
11/15/2004