Death sparks row: Can schools handle emergencies?

Bengaluru: The death of a Std X student at DPS (North) has sparked a controversy over the preparedness of the schools in facing medical emergencies.

With many CBSE/ ICSE and international schools moving to the city outskirts citing lack of land inside the city, questions are now being raised over the capability of schools in handling medical emergencies. But the DPI officials as well as heads of many schools have given an assurance that the majority of the schools have already put in place all the emergency requirements.

It may be recalled that on Tuesday a Std X student of DPS North, Mr. Prakash John Mathew developed breathing problems which became fatal.

Mr. Naveen K M, Managing Director, TRIO World School said, “Medical emergencies can occur anytime. Therefore, at TRIO World School we have an in-house certified nurse available for any medical emergency. In case of any such situation, the nurse will immediately provide the required first-aid, post which, depending upon the medical condition of the student, we will take him/her to the nearest multi-specialty hospital, which is about 2 km away from the school, for further treatment.”

Ms Madhu Narayan, Principal, Gopalan International School informed that her school has also put in place a protocol whenever any student is in a medical emergency situation. “We have appointed a nurse on a regular basis who attends to the students immediately. The health report of every student is shared with the teachers so that it would help them to decide the activities in which these students could not be engaged in. We have a tie-up with a hospital for an emergency situation. I myself visit the hospital and monitor the student’s condition till the parents arrive,” she explained.

Greenwood High International School which is also located on the city outskirts, also has a tie-up with a multi-specialty hospital. Ms. Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School, informed that whenever a child complained of any pain/injury, etc., he/she was first rushed to the sick-bay where our in-house qualified nurse would examine him/her and administer first-aid.

However if the matter was serious, the nurse and another staff member would escort the child to the Columbia Asia Hospital, with whom we have a tie-up.

Infirmary

Canadian International School has an infirmary on campus to provide round-the-clock medical service to the students. According to Ms. Shweta Sastri, Executive Director, “First the nurses attend to the situation. We also have a full-time nurse for our boarding section. If the nurses believe further medical attention is required, we immediately take the student to a nearby multi-specialty hospital that we have an association with.”