Early Bird

How to report medical emergencies

If a student having an urgent medical problem asks you not to call an ambulance, do it anyway.

By Matt Watson

February 18, 2019

AHEC’s updated emergency-procedures page provides guidelines for reporting medical emergencies, including what steps to take when a student or other person experiencing a medical emergency asks you not to call for help.

At the first sign of a medical emergency, all faculty, staff and students should immediately contact the Auraria Campus Police Department even if the victim requests that you don’t.

• From any campus landline, including classroom phones, dial 911.

• From a cellphone, dial ACPD Dispatch: 303-556-5000 (dialing 911 from a cellphone will delay response times).

Trained dispatchers will evaluate the medical emergency and send appropriate resources, which may include Denver Health paramedics, the Denver Fire Department and/or Health Center at Auraria providers.

Some people experiencing a medical problem may request that the ACPD not be contacted and/or to not have an ambulance dispatched to the scene for their medical condition (e.g., for some seizure disorders). However, this could have grave consequences for the person having a medical problem. It is advised that the ACPD be contacted immediately, regardless of such a request, and that trained personnel respond to the emergency.

When an ambulance arrives, any patient has the right to refuse a hospital transport if they are deemed by the medical personnel on the scene to be coherent enough to make personal medical decisions.

These guidelines are in place to protect all parties, as well as to ensure that the campus community remains safe during medical emergencies.