School bureaucracy never ceases to amaze. Even though a student had a stroke (a stroke) and the school waited over 90 minutes to call 911, Jamaica High School has decided to make things as difficult as possible before allowing 911 to be called during a medical emergency. The Daily News hast the latest memo from the Queens high school that explains the four things that need to be done before 911 is called:
1. Emergencies must be reported to the school's nurse, an assistant principal and the principal.
2. The child's parents must be notified. If the parents can't be reached, the nurse can decide whether to call an ambulance.
3. If no one is in the nurse's office, educators should report the matter to the nearest assistant principal and the principal.
4. And if they aren't available, the deans' office should be charged with obtaining the medical care.
Previously, an assistant principal had forbidden school deans from calling 911, which is why 14-year-old Mariya Fatima waited so long (after vomiting and collapsing) to get medical attention (she lost use of her right hand and leg, and now has a fifth grader's reading level). Some believe that the school is trying to limit the number of 911 calls so it doesn't worsen its rankings amongst city high schools, but the school now says it's reviewing its policy.
A teacher's union chapter leader said, "We're not trained medical professionals, but we know the difference between a kid who jams a finger and needs an ice pack, as opposed to something that requires immediate assistance." Hmm, we wonder where "heavy textbooks hitting a kid during math class so hard that he needs his spleen removed" fits in the continuum."
