School Nurses & Health Emergencies at School

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Health emergencies in the school setting will happen. Run through scenarios in your mind and come up with your potential responses ahead of time.

Preparing for Medical Emergencies in the School Setting

As a school nurse, being prepared for medical emergencies is a crucial part of your role. Before each school year, take the time to review and refresh your emergency supplies. A few proactive steps now can make all the difference in a crisis.

Check Expiration Dates & Restock Emergency Medications

Start by checking the expiration dates on all emergency medications stored at your school, including epinephrine auto-injectors, albuterol inhalers, glucagon, and any other life-saving treatments required for students with medical conditions. If anything is expired or nearing expiration, place an order for replacements as soon as possible to avoid delays in getting what you need. Consider setting calendar reminders for mid-year checks to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Evaluate Your Emergency Bag

What kind of emergency bag or kit do you use? Take a close look at its design and accessibility:

Is it easy to carry in an urgent situation?
Can you quickly access the most critical supplies without digging through clutter?
Is everything clearly labeled and organized?

If your bag isn’t working well for you, it might be time to upgrade or reorganize it. Some school nurses prefer backpacks with multiple compartments, while others like rolling cases or wall-mounted grab-and-go kits. The key is ensuring it meets your needs in a fast-moving situation.

Check out these blog posts to get an overview of my school nurse emergency bags

Original Post from 9/18/2012

Post from 2/8/2020

Most Recent Update 1/18/2021

Replenish Expired & Missing Items

Beyond medications, check the status of other emergency essentials, such as:

CPR face shields
Nitrile gloves
Instant glucose sources
Bandages and gauze
Tourniquets (if applicable)
Ice packs
Emergency contact lists

If anything is running low or missing, restock it now so you aren’t scrambling when an emergency happens. Check out my list on Amazon!

Assess & Improve Your Response Plan

Having the right supplies is only half the equation—your emergency response procedures matter just as much. Take some time to reflect on past medical situations you’ve handled at school. What went well? What could be improved? Don’t be afraid to adjust your approach based on experience.

Do you have an effective communication system in place to alert staff during a medical emergency?
Are key personnel trained on their roles and responsibilities?
Have you practiced emergency drills to ensure smooth execution?
Are your response protocols up to date with current best practices?

Making small but meaningful adjustments can improve response times and outcomes.

Check out these blog posts to get an overview of my school nurse emergency bags

Original Post from 9/18/2012

Post from 2/8/2020

Most Recent Update 1/18/2021