Progress Industries
Standard Procedures
Subject:
Section:
Cross Ref:
Approved by:
Effective date:
Review date:
Modified date:
Medical Emergency Procedures
G: Procedures – Health
G: Policies – Health
Dan Skokan, President & CEO
October 2, 1983
3-86, 11-89, 9-91, 8-92, 2-94, 3-94, 7-98, 8-99, 5-00, 3-02, 5-03, 2-04,
5-04, 6-05, 10-08, 3-11, 3-12, 3-13, 1-14
6-06, 6-07, 7-11
If a person has been seriously injured, has a seizure or is found unconscious, the following
procedures should be followed:
1. Make sure the scene is safe. If the scene is deemed unsafe, stay at a safe distance and call your local
EMS (911). Do not go near the victim, stay a safe distance away from the victim.
2. If the scene appears safe, check the victim and the surroundings. If the victim does not respond to
you in any way, assume the victim is unconscious.
3. Call local EMS (911) for situations that must be dealt with only by trained and equipped people.
(Examples: unconsciousness, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, vomiting blood, poisoning, head or
neck injuries, fires, explosions, downed electrical wires, car accidents.) As the bystander, you should
start the process of checking the scene and the victim, calling local EMS (911), and caring for the
victim(s). Basic first aid care should be given to the victim until help arrives.
4. Check for level of consciousness. If the person is unconscious, check for breathing, pulse, and severe
bleeding. If the victim is not breathing, the victim’s life is threatened. Place your head near the
victim’s mouth and nose. (Look, Listen and Feel) for five seconds to check for breathing. If the
person is not breathing, position the victim on his back supporting head and neck. Tilt the head back
and lift the chin. Look, Listen, and Feel for breathing for five seconds. If not breathing, give two
breaths and check for a pulse. If a pulse is noted, continue rescue breathing. If there is no pulse or
breath, start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).
5. If a person is choking and he is conscious and coughing, let him cough until the object comes up. If
the person stops coughing, speaking or breathing, give the person the Heimlich Maneuver. Repeat
these thrusts until the object is forced out or the person becomes unconscious. Lower the victim to the
floor and call EMS (911). Continue to give five abdominal thrusts and do a mouth finger sweep and
attempt to give two breaths. If the breath doesn’t go in, continue process. Once you are able to get air
in, continue to check for pulse. If the person is not breathing, give rescue breathing. If no pulse, start
CPR.
6. Once the EMS (911) persons have arrived, the treatment and care will be taken over by them.
A General Event Report (GER) is to be completed and forwarded to applicable staff for review.
The Manager and Program Manager will be notified of the incident that has occurred. The parent or
guardian will be notified. The incident will need to be documented in the persons served logs or nurses
notes.
If a person is injured while working, follow the same protocol as listed above. In addition, a Worker’s
Compensation will need to be completed within 24 hours. This needs to be turned into
the Human Resources Department within 48 hours of injury.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
1. Emergencies (Ambulance and Fire) 911
2. Newton Clinic
3. Skiff Medical Center
4. Iowa Methodist Medical Center
5. Iowa Methodist Occupational Clinics
6. Iowa Methodist Neighborhood Clinics
641-792-2112
641-792-1273
515-241-6423
515-241-2020 or 515-262-7619
515-262-8525