NPC NPC Health, Safety & Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a sign of possible child abuse that a paraprofessional should document and report?
- A student who always brings a packed lunch
- Unexplained bruises in various stages of healing on a young child (Correct answer)
- A student who prefers to read alone at recess
- A student who receives perfect attendance awards
Correct answer: Unexplained bruises in various stages of healing on a young child
Unexplained bruises, especially in various stages of healing, are a warning sign of potential physical abuse and must be documented and reported to a mandated reporter.
Question 2: When administering medication to a student, a paraprofessional must:
- Use their own judgment about dosage if the prescription is unclear
- Administer any medication a parent sends in without authorization
- Follow the district's medication policy, which typically requires written authorization from a parent and physician (Correct answer)
- Give medication only if the student requests it themselves
Correct answer: Follow the district's medication policy, which typically requires written authorization from a parent and physician
Schools require written permission from both the parent and a licensed healthcare provider before any medication — prescription or over-the-counter — can be administered to a student.
Question 3: A student with Type 1 diabetes shows signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Which response is appropriate?
- Have the student rest quietly and do nothing until a parent is called
- Follow the student's diabetes management plan, which typically involves giving juice or glucose tablets (Correct answer)
- Restrict food and wait for symptoms to resolve naturally
- Ask the student to exercise to raise blood sugar
Correct answer: Follow the student's diabetes management plan, which typically involves giving juice or glucose tablets
Hypoglycemia requires prompt treatment per the student's individualized health plan, typically involving a fast-acting carbohydrate source; untreated low blood sugar can be dangerous.
Question 4: What does the term 'duty of care' mean for a paraprofessional?
- Performing custodial duties like cleaning classrooms
- The legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to students (Correct answer)
- Filing paperwork accurately and on time
- Attending all staff professional development sessions
Correct answer: The legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to students
Duty of care requires school staff to act with reasonable caution to protect students from foreseeable harm, and failure to do so can result in legal liability.
Question 5: A student is being bullied repeatedly by classmates. A paraprofessional who witnesses bullying should:
- Tell the bullied student to ignore it and toughen up
- Intervene immediately, support the targeted student, document the incident, and report it to the teacher (Correct answer)
- Handle it informally by mediating between students privately
- Assume the teacher already knows and do nothing
Correct answer: Intervene immediately, support the targeted student, document the incident, and report it to the teacher
Paraprofessionals have a responsibility to intervene in bullying, support the targeted student, document what occurred, and report it through proper channels per school anti-bullying policy.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes proper playground supervision practices for a paraprofessional?
- Standing in one spot and only watching nearby students
- Scanning the entire area continuously, positioning yourself for maximum visibility, and remaining alert to hazards (Correct answer)
- Only supervising students assigned to your specific class
- Using personal phone time when students appear to be playing safely
Correct answer: Scanning the entire area continuously, positioning yourself for maximum visibility, and remaining alert to hazards
Effective supervision requires active, continuous scanning of the entire play area, strategic positioning, and vigilance for potential hazards or conflicts.
NPC NPC Health, Safety & Emergency Procedures 2
Which of the following is a sign of possible child abuse that a paraprofessional should document and report?