Emergency Information

Home : Emergency Information

When and Where to Call for HELP

What do you do if your friend is ill? When do you call for help? Do you need the paramedics or can you drive them to the hospital or Student Health? Should you encourage them to make an appointment? The following table provides some guidance for you in making these decisions in commonly seen situations on campus. Our Advice Nurse (x7129 or x7837) can also help you with these decisions when we are open.

When in doubt, don’t hesitate to call the paramedics. Their evaluation is free and can help you decide whether your friend needs to go to the emergency room.

We have divided problems or illnesses into three categories:

Potentially Life-Threatening

– call 911 or x9911 (on-campus)




Get Help Immediately

– transport the student by car to Student Health (M-F, 8am 4:30pm), or after hours to the local emergency room or urgent care facility.




Make An Appointment

– call Student Health at x3371 for an appointment, the Advice Nurse at Student Health for medical information at x7129, the Counseling Center at x4411, or any other health care provider.

Problems/Illness	Potentially Life Threatening	Get Help Immediatley	Make An Appointment
Alcohol & Other Drugs	Can’t wake person up Slow breathing rate – less than 1 breath every 5 seconds Dark, purplish or bluish color to lips or nail beds Seizures Wild or inappropriate behavior Vomiting blood	Continuous vomiting	Preoccupation with alcohol or other drugs (e.g. preoccupation with how to get it, how to pay for it, when the next occasion for using will be, etc.) Escalating patterns of use – more frequently, larger quantities Change in school performance Alienation of family or friends
Asthma	Dark, purplish or bluish color to lips or nail beds Fatigue or drowsiness during an asthma attack Obvious respiratory distress including foward, anxiety, obvious exertion with breathing, or increased respiratory rate (more than 24 breaths per minute)	Wheezing and shortness of breath which does not resolve or significantly improve after 3 doses of inhaled medication over 20 minutes. Persistent, severe coughing associated with shortness of breath Significant vomiting during an asthma attack	Asthma has worsened in severity according to predetermined levels worked out with health care practitioner. Uses asthma inhaler for relief of symptoms more than twice a week Wheezing or shortness of breath that responds to inhaled medication but returns within 4 hours
Diabetes	Unresponsive Rapid deep breathing with pauses Seizures "Wild behavior" or inappropriate behavior Lethargy or inappropriate drowsiness Sweaty, shaky, confused, or agitated Breath smells like "Juicy Fruit" gum		Reports weight loss (or weight loss is noticeable), excessive thirst, excessive urination Uses insulin to promote weight loss Stops insulin without being told to by a health care practitioner
Headaches	Becomes unresponsive Mental confusion (not knowing time, name, place etc.) Loses control of bowel or bladder Uncoordinated, unable to walk straight One side of body becomes weak or paralyzed Unable to speak	Worst headache ever Severe headache with abrupt onset Continuous vomiting	History of migraines but headache is worse or different in character Increasing frequency of headaches Frequent headaches and not currently under care or taking routine medications
Heart Conditions	Unresponsive Not breathing or has no pulse Gasping for air Looks dark blue or purple around lips or nail beds Chest pain unaffected by movement or breathing	Fainting or near fainting during exercise Heart racing or "fluttery" feeling in the chest	Has a history of fainting or near fainting during exercise Has a history of heart racing or "fluttery" feeling in the chest Chest pain with movement or breathing Feeling tired with exercise sooner than someone else in the same general physical condition Periodic shortness of breath A parent, brother or sister had a sudden death before age 50 due to heart problems
Mental Health/Psychiatric Problems	Expresses intent to kill self Expresses intent or plan to hurt or kill someone else Behaves in a violent manner Unable to take care of basic needs for food, shelter, or clothing because of a mental problem (as opposed to lack of money)	Expresses desire to kill self but has no plan and has support system of people to be with until help is received Gives away belongings Seems suddenly calmer after a period of depression or agitation	Seems sad a lot of the time, cries excessively Sleeps excessively Escalating drug or alcohol use Withdrawal – stays in room alone a lot Significant change in study patterns – especially neglecting studies, failing classes
Respiratory Infections	Unresponsive or unable to arouse or becomes progressively more unresponsive Dark, purplish or bluish color to lips or nail beds Respiratory distress with gasping or inability to move air in or out	Severe headache or stiff neck with illness Red dots or large bruises on skin Inability to swallow own saliva Feeling that throat is swelling closed Significant shortness of breath especially with respiratory rate more than 24 breaths per minute Difficulty opening mouth or turning head	Fever lasting 24 hours or more (101.5 or greater) Earache Wheezing Pain in the chest associated with a cold More than 4-5 days of swollen glands with fever or sore throat Soreness on one side of the throat only Cough that disrupts sleep all night Colored mucus from nose and/or throat for more than 5 days and/or facial pain
Known Seizure Disorder or Epilepsy	Seizures last more than 5 minutes (by the clock) Dark, purplish or bluish color to lips or nail beds Has a second seizure before waking up from the first seizure Gagging or inability to breath during seizure	Significant injury caused by seizure (e.g. lacerations, severely bitten tongue, head trauma from fall, injury to extremity) Any seizure occurring in someone without a history of seizure disorder	Increasing frequency of seizures in person with a history of seizures Change in character of seizures in person with a history of seizures Not taking medications as prescribed by person known to have a history of seizures

SEARCH: 

Get to Know Us!
We're here to help

Quick Links

• Health History Form
• After Hours Care
• Distressed Students Guide
• Email Clinician
• Emergency Info
• Hepatitis B
• HIPAA
• HPV Vaccine
• Itemized Billing
• Medical Records
• Phone Numbers
• STI Testing
• Stress Directory

Recommended Immunizations

Got a Health Question?
Need quick answers?
This is your page!
Complete Health Topics