SUB TEACHER TRAINING

Health Emergencies

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez | Sub Teacher PD| July 29, 2025

AGENDA

Topics

• Synergy Health Alerts
• Site Emergency Medications & Cabinets
• Diabetic Students
• Asthma
• Seizures
• First Aid Scenarios

SYNERGY HEALTH ALERTS

SYNERGY HEALTH ALERTS

Synergy is the SUSD student database

• Student demographic and health information can be found using Synergy
• Sub plans should also indicate if a student with a significant medical condition is in the classroom

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SYNERGY HEALTH ALERTS

Student Alerts

Alerts are in place for students who have important notifications that staff need to be aware of

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• Health Alerts include:
• Health conditions
• Emergency action plans
• Medications
• Allergies
• Medical equipment
• Special meal needs & other health items

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• Non-Health Alerts include:
• Support plans (504s)
• Custody agreements

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SYNERGY HEALTH ALERTS

Location

• Alerts are in the upper right screen
• They are identified by icons that represent the type of notification
• Click on the icon and detailed information will appear

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SYNERGY HEALTH ALERTS

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Alert Box

• Alert box will pop out
• Important information about the student will appear

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SYNERGY HEALTH ALERTS

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Alert Icons

EMERGENCY CABINETS

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Emergency Cabinets

Each school site is equipped with at least one Emergency Cabinet that contains the following:

Large Cabinets - Contents

• AED
• Epi-Pen
• Narcan
• Stop the Bleed Kit

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Every school site has at least one large cabinet in the Front Office

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Small Cabinets - Contents

• AED
• Narcan (some sites)

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Comprehensive High Schools have an additional AED unit in the gym

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EMERGENCY CABINETS

AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

What is an AED?

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm. It can send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm if needed

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When do you use an AED? Sudden Cardiac Arrest

• Sudden collapse
• Loss of consciousness
• No pulse
• No breathing

EMERGENCY CABINETS

AED – A Survivor’s Story

EMERGENCY CABINETS

AEDs – Action Steps

1. Recognize symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest
2. Call office for help
• Ask office to send someone with the AED
3. Call 911
4. Begin CPR
5. Use the AED as soon as available
6. Stay with person until EMS arrive

EMERGENCY CABINETS

AEDs – How to Use

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Epi-Pens

What is an Epi-Pen?

An Epi-Pen autoinjector is used for emergency administration of epinephrine and is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is life threatening and always an emergency.

When do you use an Epi-Pen?

Signs and Symptoms of Anaphylaxis:

• Hives
• Itching
• Skin redness
• Swelling of the tongue or lips
• Throat tightening
• Breathing difficulty

• Wheezing or coughing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Stomach cramps; vomiting; or diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Feeling faint/drop in blood pressure
• Impending doom feeling

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EMERGENCY CABINETS

Epi-Pens – Action Steps

1. Recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis – when in doubt give Epi-Pen
2. Call office for help
• Ask office to send someone with the Epi-Pen
3. Call 911
4. Administer Epi-Pen
5. If symptoms do not resolve within 5-10 minutes give additional dose of epinephrine
6. Stay with person until EMS arrive

If student stops breathing and/or heartbeat is not present – begin CPR

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Epi-Pens – How to Administer

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Stop video at 5 min. 45 sec.

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Narcan (naloxone)

What is Narcan?

Naloxone is an emergency life-saving medication used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.

When do you use Narcan?

Signs and Symptoms of an Opioid Overdose:

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• Falling asleep
• Unresponsive – will not wake up to a loud voice or rubbing firmly on the middle of their chest
• Loss of consciousness
• Slow, weak or no breathing

• Pinpoint (small, constricted) pupils
• Choking; snoring; gasping or gurgling sounds
• Limp body
• Cold or clammy skin
• Bluish/purple color to lips and nails

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Narcan – Action Steps

1. Recognize symptoms of an opioid overdose
2. Call office for help
• Ask office to send someone with the Narcan
3. Call 911
4. Administer Narcan
5. If symptoms do not resolve within 2-3 minutes give additional dose of Narcan
6. Stay with person until EMS arrive

If student stops breathing and/or heartbeat is not present – begin CPR

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Narcan – How to Use

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Stop the Bleed^® Kits

What is Stop the Bleed?

Bleeding is one of the biggest dangers after a serious injury. If someone loses too much blood, they can go into shock or die. Using the lifesaving equipment stocked inside the Stop the Bleed^® kit allows people to control life threatening bleeding.

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Stop the Bleed^® Contents:

• Tourniquet
• Chest seal
• Sterile gauze
• Compression bandage
• Mylar rescue blanket
• Gloves

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When do you use the Stop the Bleed^® Kit?

• Car accidents
• Falls
• Active shooter events
• Workplace accidents
• Natural disasters
• Other scenarios in which an injury with severe bleeding occurs

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Bleeding Emergency Action Steps

1. Recognize symptoms of a severe bleed
2. Call office for help
• Ask office to send someone with the Stop the Bleed^® kit
3. Call 911
4. Utilize items in the kit to control the bleeding
5. Stay with person until EMS arrive

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If student stops breathing and/or heartbeat is not present – begin CPR

EMERGENCY CABINETS

Stop the Bleed – Quick Action Steps

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EMERGENCY CABINETS

Stop the Bleed

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DIABETIC STUDENTS

DIABETIC STUDENTS

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

A lifelong condition where the pancreas makes little or no insulin, which leads to high blood sugar levels.

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Students may need:

• To check blood glucose (sugar) levels multiple times throughout the day
• Daily insulin
• To visit the Health Office daily for treatment
• Allow student to leave early for lunch (if applicable) to complete treatment
• Assistance in the office with trained staff for low or high blood sugar levels

DIABETIC STUDENTS

Diabetic Supplies a Student May Carry

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DIABETIC STUDENTS

Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar (hypoglycemia)

Always an emergency!

Treatment

• Send to Health Office
• Snack will be provided
• Student will be monitored until blood sugar rises to normal limits

DIABETIC STUDENTS

Symptoms of High Blood Sugar (hyperglycemia)

Not an emergency but may need to be addressed

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Treatment:

• Allow access to water and bathroom
• May need to send to Health Office for additional testing

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DIABETIC STUDENTS

What to Do if a Student is Experiencing Symptoms?

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• NEVER send student alone if they are having a low blood sugar
• Call office for an adult staff (e.g. Campus Security Monitor) to escort student to the front office
• Trained staff in the office will assist student with treatment or monitoring
• Student may need access to water and the bathroom depending on symptoms
• Student may go home if symptoms are severe

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ASTHMA

ASTHMA

What is Asthma?

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• Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus.

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• This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath.

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• Childhood asthma can cause irritating daily symptoms that interfere with play, sports, school and sleep. In some children, unmanaged asthma can cause dangerous asthma attacks.

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ASTHMA

Signs & Symptoms

Signs & symptoms that may require medication

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• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Feeling the chest is tight
• Difficulty breathing; shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Itchy throat
• Pale skin
• Hoarseness

ASTHMA

Signs & Symptoms

Signs & symptoms that may require 9-1-1

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• Cough, wheeze or shortness of breath

worsens even after medicine has had 5-10

min. to work

• Neck and chest are “sucked in” with each

breath

• Child has trouble talking or walking
• Struggling to breathe (hunching over)
• Lips or fingernails are gray or blue
• Child has an altered level of consciousness

or confusion

ASTHMA

Asthma – What does it look like?

ASTHMA

What to Do if a Student is Experiencing Symptoms?

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• NEVER send student alone
• Call office for an adult staff (e.g. Campus Security Monitor) to escort student to the front office
• If student is having severe symptoms call office for help
• Student may have an inhaler on campus that can be brought to them
• If student returns to class keep child's activity level to a minimum
• Continue to closely supervise throughout the day for reemergence of symptoms

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SEIZURES

SEIZURES

What is a Seizure?

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• A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings and levels of consciousness.

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• There are many types of seizures which have a range of symptoms.

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• Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency.

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• There are many possible causes of seizures because a lot of things can interfere with your brain’s typical electrical patterns. These range from changes to your blood sugar levels to an illness, injury or underlying condition.

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SEIZURES

Signs and Symptoms

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Seizure symptoms vary based on the type and severity, but may include:

• Involuntary and uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Eye rolling upwards
• Rapid eye blinking
• Loss of consciousness or awareness
• Sudden loss of muscle tone
• Temporary confusion
• Aimless/dazed behavior
• Staring spells

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SEIZURES

What to Do if a Student is Experiencing Symptoms?

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During seizure

• Call office for help. Student may have an emergency medication.
• Keep yourself and others calm
• Ease them to the ground if they appear to be falling.
• Turn them gently turn onto their side. This will keep the airway clear.
• Cushion their head
• Provide for privacy
• Time seizure and log the activity you observe
• Loosen tight clothing around the neck
• DO NOT put anything in the mouth
• DO NOT hold down
• Remove objects that might injure student

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If student stops breathing and/or heartbeat is not present – begin CPR

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SEIZURES

Seizure First Aid

SEIZURES

Seizure First Aid

SEIZURES

Seizures - Video

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FIRST AID

FIRST AID

When to Send Students to the Office

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Teachers should consider sending a student to the office for health issues if the student is experiencing any of the following:

Breathing

• Any difficulty breathing, airway issues, changes in color, or choking. Subjective complaints from asthmatics.

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Bones/Breaks

• Immediate injury that could be a broken bone

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Chronic Conditions

• Any health concern that requires medication, assessment, or care (such as asthma, diabetes, allergies, seizures, etc.)

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Blood

• Anything significantly bleeding (not paper cuts or old picked scabs). When possible, bleeding should be controlled in the classroom before sending them to the nurse (e.g. give student tissues, gauze, wash, band aid etc.)

FIRST AID

When to Send Students to the Office

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Teachers should consider sending a student to the office for health issues if the student is experiencing any of the following:

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Head Injury

• Injuries or impact to the head/face/cervical spine (neck) must be evaluated. An adult escorts the student to the health office. Headaches can wait (unless migraine) as they will often resolve on their own.

Nausea; Queasiness or Diarrhea

• Feeling "nauseous or queasy” in the absence of other symptoms such as appearing sick (pale, clammy, tired) can take the "wait and see" route.
• Only students who actually vomit should be sent in the absence of other symptoms or complaints.
• Children can often perceive hunger as a stomachache. Often stomach issues are due to anxiety around academic or social issues, family issues or the need to move bowels.
• One loose BM is not diarrhea. Wait for more than one trip to the restroom and additional complaints, symptoms, and an ill appearing child.

FIRST AID

When to Send Students to the Office

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Teachers should consider sending a student to the office for health issues if the student is experiencing any of the following:

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Bee Sting

• Send student to office so attempts can be made to remove stinger, evaluate sting and if needed evaluate for anaphylaxis.

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Overheating 

• Students just finished with exertion such as PE, playground, recess, running up stairs, etc. should have a period of cooling down and hydration before being assessed. Check to see if the student is overheated due to a warm classroom or too many layers of clothes. Dehydration can cause temperature to rise. Hydrate and encourage all students to hydrate throughout the day.

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Other symptoms that indicate the student is ill

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HEALTH EMERGENCIES

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Questions?

THANK YOU!

Michelle Kowsari, RN

Health Services Program Coordinator

209-933-7060 Ext. 2404

mkowsari@stocktonusd.net

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