Florida School of the Arts Library Resources

SJR State Security

*In the event of an emergency immediately call 911 and campus security.*  

Palatka Campus Security Office:

386-312-4095

Palatka Campus Officer on Duty Cellphone:

386-937-2052

Visit the SJR State Safety and Security webpage to learn how to register for emergency notifications for the SJR State campuses. 

St. Johns River State College Health Services

The College does not maintain an infirmary or hospital. All injuries must be reported to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Assistance General Counsel on the Palatka Campus or the chief administrator at the Orange Park and St. Augustine Campuses. If the injury or illness appears to be serious, the College will immediately attempt to notify the family. Emergency treatment by a private physician is at the student's or parent's expense. Personal insurance is the student's responsibility. 

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First Aid Basics

First aid involves the use of various techniques and supplies to care for people who have been injured or who are ill. You might use first aid to initially care for a person who experiences: 

• an allergic reaction
• bleeding
• burns
• chocking
• cuts & scrapes
• insect bites & stings
• poisoning
• seizures

For more serious injuries, such as frostbite, broken bones, or a heart attack or stroke, seek medical attention right away. Call 911 and ask for guidance or take the person to the nearest emergency room. Undergoing first aid and CPR training from an organization like the American Red Cross can provide you with the skills you need to properly respond to medical emergencies. 

First Aid Kit

Keep a first aid kit at home, in your car, and at work to ensure that you are properly prepared for any injury or medical emergency that occurs. The United States Government recommends making a first aid kit part of a 72-hour emergency kit, which also includes food, water, a flashlight, batteries, and other supplies necessary to keep you and your family alive for three days in the event of an emergency. 

You can buy a first aid kit pre-assembled at a drugstore or supermarket, or make your own. A well-stocked first-aid kit may contain the following items:

• antibiotic ointment
• anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea medications, antacids, cough, and cold medications
• antihistamine (for minor allergic reactions)
• antiseptic solution
• bandages of various shapes and sizes, gauze, elastic bandages, safety pins, and adhesive tape
• calamine lotion for insect stings and poison ivy
• cold packs
• cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
• epinephrine auto-injector, if someone is known to have severe allergies
• first aid manual
• hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes
• hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching
• hydrogen peroxide or another disinfectant to clean cuts and scrapes
• pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and aspirin (do not give aspirin to children under 18)
• scissors and tweezers
• sterile saline eyewash
• syringe and spoon for administering medicines
• thermometer 

Also, keep important phone numbers posted in a place where you can easily access them. Post the phone numbers for your doctors and local emergency service providers, along with the National Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222.

How to Administer First Aid

How you administer first aid depends on the problem you are treating. Below are first aid techniques for a few common injuries and illnesses.

• Burns: for a minor burn, run cool water over the skin or hold a cool compress for five minutes to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Afterward, wrap the burned area in a clean bandage. If the burn is more serious (as indicated by blistering or whitening of the skin) or it covers a large area, get medical attention.
• Chocking: before doing anything, call 911. If the person is unable to speak or is having trouble breathing, perform the Heimlich Maneuver. Reach around the person's waist, placing one clenched fist below the ribcage but above the belly button. Hold your fist with the other hand and pull it firmly upward and backward. You can also perform back blows. Bend the person over at the waist. Using the heel of your hand, hit the back between the shoulder blades. Repeat the Heimlich Maneuver and back blows until the object has been dislodged or medical help arrives.
• Cuts & Scrapes: wash the wound with soap and water. Use tweezers sterilized with alcohol to remove any dirt that is lodged in the cut or scrape. If the wound is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze. Once the bleeding has stopped, apply a clean bandage. You may use an antibiotic ointment before applying the bandage. Get medical help for long or deep cuts, wounds that were caused by metal objects, puncture wounds, or foreign objects lodged in the wound. 
• Bleeding: place a sterile pad or other clean dressing over the wound and apply firm pressure. If no pad is available, use your hand to apply pressure. If the bleeding continues, tie a tourniquet around the limb, high above the wound. The national Stop the Bleen Campaign encourages individuals to get trained through their local health department, hospital, or emergency medical services provider so they can treat severe bleeding until medical help arrives.
• Insect Bites & Stings: If there is a sting, remove the stinger by gently scraping it out with something stiff, such as a credit card. Wash the wound with soap or water. Apply ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling. Watch for signs of a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, which include swelling of the lips and tongue, difficulty breathing, a weak pulse, and dizziness. If you notice these symptoms, call for emergency medical assistance right away. 
• Poisoning: read the label on the product the person ingested and follow the instructions. Call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 and ask what to do. If the person has severe symptoms or is not breathing, call 911.
• Seizure: make sure the person is in a safe place where he or she cannot fall or get hurt. Loosen any clothing around the head and neck area. Do not place anything in the mouth. Let the seizure finish. Get medical help if this is the person's first seizure, it was triggered by a head injury, or he or she is having trouble breathing.

If someone is unconscious, not breathing, and there is no sign of a heartbeat, perform CPR. To do chest compressions, push down on the center of the chest at a rate of 100 presses per minute. Continue to perform CPR until medical help arrives. You can alternate chest compressions with rescue breathing. Tilt the person's head back and lift the chin. Pinch the nose and cover the mouth with your own. Blow into the person's mouth until the chest rises. Give two breaths of one-second duration each. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association encourage the public to get trained in the use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) which are available on campus. These devices deliver an electric shock to restore the normal heart rhythm after cardiac arrest. Access to these devices and proper training in their use could save 50,000 lives each year, according to the American Red Cross. 

When to Call 911

Some injuries or medical conditions are too severe to treat on your own. If you believe the person is in grave danger or his or her life is in jeopardy, call 911. 

• Signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling of the mouth and tongue, bluish skin, or a weak pulse
• Sings of a heart attack, including pain, pressure, or a squeezing in the chest; or chest pain with dizziness, nausea, sweating, or shortness of breath
• Signs of a stroke, including sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, drooping of the face, slurred speech, or a loss of balance and coordination
• Signs of choking, including difficulty speaking or breathing
• Bleeding that does not stop after a few minutes of applying constant pressure to the wound
• Confusion or unconsciousness
• Severe pain

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