Medical Emergency & First Aid

FOR AN ILLNESS OR INJURY REQUIRING URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION:

  • Immediately call 911.
  • If trained, give appropriate first aid until emergency responders arrive.
  • DO NOT move the victim unless absolutely necessary.

REPORT INJURIES:

Students injured on campus should complete an incident report form.  The form is available from Workers’ Compensation, EH&S, or the academic department.  After completion, it is sent to the NSHE Risk Manager.

  • Faculty, staff, and student employees should report injuries by completing a C-1 form and submitting it to Workers’ Compensation.  
  • Specific instructions can be obtained by calling (775) 784-4394 or contact through the Workers’ Compensation website.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE:

Know the warning signs of both heart attack and stroke, so that if one of them strikes you or a companion, you won’t lose precious time.

The warning signs of a heart attack are:

  • uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the chest, lasting more than a few minutes
  • pain spreading to shoulders, neck, arms or jaw
  • light-headedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
  • Sudden chest pain or pressure (also called angina) that worsens. This may be felt as discomfort, heaviness, or pain. May also be felt in the back, jaw, throat, arm or below the breastbone.
  • Feeling as if a belt is being tightened around your chest
  • Pain that spreads from the center of the chest to your arms, shoulders, neck or jaw
  • Sweating
  • Feeling sick to your stomach, nausea, vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • A fullness, indigestion or choking feeling (may feel like "heartburn")
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeats
  • Extreme weakness, anxiety

The warning signs of a stroke are:

  • sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm and leg on one side of the body
  • loss of speech, garbled speech or trouble talking or understanding others
  • loss of vision, as if a shade has been drawn over one eye
  • sudden dizziness or loss of balance
  • sudden severe headaches

Heart Attack or Stroke: What should you do?

  • Call for emergency help by dialing 911. Stay on the line. Do not take the person to a hospital in your own car.
  • Be calm and take actions that make the victim feel less excited.
  • Have the victim sit or lie down.
  • Ask the person if they take any medicines for chest pain, such as nitroglycerin. If so, get it and follow the written instructions on its use.
  • Ask the person if they are allergic to aspirin. If they are not allergic, have them chew an aspirin as soon after calling 911 as possible.
  • If the person stops breathing, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Tell the 911 operator that this has happened.
  • If the pulse and breathing stop, begin CPR. Continue until help arrives.

Choking (cannot cough or speak)

  • Check victim’s mouth and clear foreign matter.
  • Give abdominal thrusts.

Fainting, Unconsciousness, and Shock

  • Have victim lie or sit down and rest, elevate feet if still faint.
  • Keep victim comfortable, not hot or cold.
  • Place victim on side if unconscious.
  • Ask or look for emergency medical I.D.
  • Treat other injuries as necessary.

Severe Bleeding and Wounds

  • Prevent contact with victim’s blood by wearing gloves and/or protective clothing.
  • Apply direct pressure on wound.
  • Use clean cloth or hand.
  • Apply pressure to blood vessel if necessary.
  • Elevate body part.
  • Add more cloth if blood soaks through.
  • Keep pressure on wound until help arrives.
  • Do not use tourniquet.