NPC NPC Health, Safety & Emergency Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What should a paraprofessional do first when a student has a medical emergency in the classroom?
- Attempt to diagnose and treat the condition independently
- Call 911 if needed and alert the teacher and school nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the student improves on their own
- Ask other students for advice on what to do
Correct answer: Call 911 if needed and alert the teacher and school nurse immediately
In a medical emergency, paraprofessionals should immediately notify the teacher, send for the school nurse, and call 911 if the situation is life-threatening.
Question 2: A student with a known peanut allergy accidentally ingests peanuts and begins showing signs of anaphylaxis. The paraprofessional should:
- Offer the student water and wait for symptoms to pass
- Activate emergency protocols immediately, use the epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if authorized, and call 911 (Correct answer)
- Send the student to the bathroom to wash out their mouth
- Have the student lie down and monitor for 30 minutes before acting
Correct answer: Activate emergency protocols immediately, use the epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if authorized, and call 911
Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and requires immediate action: administer epinephrine (if the paraprofessional is trained and authorized), call 911, and follow the student's Emergency Action Plan.
Question 3: Under OSHA standards and school safety policy, paraprofessionals should use universal precautions primarily to:
- Protect themselves from all types of student misbehavior
- Prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens by treating all blood/body fluids as potentially infectious (Correct answer)
- Speed up the cleanup process after accidents
- Avoid documentation requirements
Correct answer: Prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens by treating all blood/body fluids as potentially infectious
Universal precautions require treating all human blood and potentially infectious body fluids as if they contain bloodborne pathogens, protecting staff and students alike.
Question 4: A student reports that another student has a weapon at school. A paraprofessional should:
- Ignore it as rumors are common in schools
- Confront the student with the alleged weapon directly (Correct answer)
- Report the information immediately to the principal or administrator without delay
- Discuss it with other paraprofessionals before deciding what to do
Correct answer: Confront the student with the alleged weapon directly
Any credible report of a weapon must be immediately reported to school administration; paraprofessionals should never attempt to handle such situations independently.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a school's lockdown drill?
- To practice evacuating the building in case of fire
- To prepare students and staff to respond to an intruder or threat inside or near the school (Correct answer)
- To test the school's PA system
- To practice transitioning between class periods quickly
Correct answer: To prepare students and staff to respond to an intruder or threat inside or near the school
Lockdown drills prepare staff and students to respond to an active threat by securing rooms, staying silent, and following established protocols to maximize safety.
Question 6: A student has a seizure during class. After ensuring the student is safe and has not been injured, a paraprofessional should:
- Restrain the student's movements to prevent injury
- Place something in the student's mouth to prevent biting
- Time the seizure, stay calm, keep others away, and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Leave the classroom to find help and leave the student alone
Correct answer: Time the seizure, stay calm, keep others away, and report to the nurse
During a seizure, do not restrain the student or put anything in their mouth; instead, protect them from injury, time the event, clear the area, and notify the nurse.
NPC NPC Health, Safety & Emergency Procedures 1
What should a paraprofessional do first when a student has a medical emergency in the classroom?