Printer FriendlyGOOD SAMARITAN PRACTICE
The welfare of everyone in our community is highly important, and Gonzaga University encourages students to offer help and assistance to others in need. The purpose of the Good Samaritan Practice is to provide care for others in a safe manner. When any student observes another student in need of medical attention, the right thing to do is to call for medical help. Good Samaritans facing a friend or acquaintance’s medical emergency are asked to immediately call 911. AFTER calling 911, please contact residence life staff members or Gonzaga Campus Security to assist while waiting for medical emergency professionals to arrive. If you are unsure if a person’s life is in danger, but you think it might be, make the call. If you are even considering calling, you probably should have called ten minutes ago.
When alcohol is involved, why call?
Students may be impaired or intoxicated by alcohol or drug use. Serious medical consequences can occur when well-meaning friends of an intoxicated or impaired student risk a student’s physical well being by taking care of the student themselves. Not every person knows if they have had too much to drink and there is a chance that you may be with another person whose drinking is at a dangerous level. Dangerous impairment by drugs may also not be immediately recognizable. Even a person who has consumed only a small amount of alcohol may be experiencing a dangerous interaction with illegal or prescription drugs or may have other complicating health conditions. In these rare circumstances, our priority is the preservation of life. Students should not hesitate to call because of fear of disciplinary action. Many symptoms and factors can contribute to medical emergencies such as alcohol poisoning, drug impairment, other specific medical conditions, or interactions between all three, and serious consequences can result.
When alcohol is not involved, why call?
You may be faced with a medical emergency when alcohol use is not involved.
For students with a medical emergency resulting from ailments such as asthma, diabetes, allergic reactions, epilepsy or other conditions who appear to need help, please call 911 for medical help. Don’t take chances with another person’s health and safety by assuming that everything will be alright. Sometimes a person in medical distress needs YOU to make the call. If you are unsure if a person’s life is in danger, but you think it might be, make the call. You may need to ignore statements by the student in distress regarding whether or not they want you to call 911. Remember, their judgment is impaired by their medical condition. If you are even considering calling 911, you probably should have called ten minutes ago. Make the call.
How to recognize a medical emergency
Dangerous medical situations involving alcohol or drugs, or other dangerous medical conditions can come in many shapes and forms. You may not recognize the signs of an emergency because you have become accustomed to behaviors that may look normal when you or others are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is important to be aware and understand that a person, whether under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or not, who is unable to perform normal functions may be in a dangerous situation and need medical help now. Call 911 when a person:
- is passed out and cannot be roused or awakened or cannot stay awake or conscious
- has difficulty speaking coherently or comprehending others or the situation around them
- has difficulty sitting, standing or walking or cannot do this without assistance
- is vomiting
Many things could happen to a person who is impaired with any medical condition, such as falling, becoming unconscious or choking on vomit. Even the person who appears to be "sleeping it off" will still have alcohol or drugs in their system that can only be worked out over time.
What to do
On or off campus, call 911 immediately. When on campus call Campus Security when possible right AFTER calling 911. While waiting for fire and ambulance emergency crews to arrive, if there is no physical injury, especially to the head, neck and back, you may gently turn the intoxicated on his or her side and maintain that position by placing a small pillow in the small of his or her back. This is important to prevent choking if he or she should vomit. Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.