Ben R u e k b e r g and David W. Ball Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, Houston. TX 77251
Throughout the field ofchemistry there is an incrraacd awareness of and sensitivity to
safety issues. Accordingly, laboratory instructors face increased responsibility for the safety and well-being of their students. This responsibility may, in part, extend t o treatment for accidents that occur in the laboratory whether or not the incident is chemical-related. If an unconscious or "shacky" student must he treated, certain important information should, nonetheless, be available t o doctors or emergency medical penonnel. The student's laboratory notebook is prohahlv the best d a c e for this information. ' b e haw k ~ e odform that dtudents can fill out to provide, as rompletely ar porrible. information that may be important if the student requires emergency medical treatment.' 'The figure s h o w a filled.c,or sample form. brorina additional safety information. that is distrrbuted to the students with an identical blank form t o he fastened. eamoleted. inside their notebooks. The -~~~snrnnle ~iorm iiustrates thesortsuf infurmationthnt r h d d go into the rnrious blanks. Some of this information might not occur to the students without these examples. The potential hazards of the laboratory and the importance of keeping a good lah~
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Ben Ruekberg is an assistant professor of chemistry tor one year at Rice Universlty. He has long been concerned with laboratory safety and has served with a volunteer ambulance service in Vermont. Davld W. Ball is currently a graduate studem at Rice University. He has had EMT trainlng and does volunteer work for the Safety Services department of the Greater Houston Area Chapter of lhe American Red Cross.
Warren Pease Name: Addreas: 1066 Hastings Housmn. TX 77096 Age: 18 Height: 65" Chronic Medlcai Problems: Diabetes, Epilepsy, Hay Fevsr, Emphysema. Cmly's Anemia Current Medical Problems: Shingles, Bell's Palsy Contact Lenses: XX YES NO Physical Disabilitler: Missing Left Ear Allergies to Medication: Penlclllln, Aspirin Current Medicatlow Dilantln, lnsulln Personal Physician: mrcus Welby. 555-1212 PERSON TO CONTACT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: Name: Donna Pease (moths0 Phone: 555-1234
Phone 555- 1234
Date M l r t h : Feb. 30. 1967 WelgM: 210 lbs.
Student Signature
DATE
1/1/86
7
Contact lenses should not be worn b the laboratory. llnitating vapws get h;rpped In fhem. and they him der the washing away of material splashed In the eye. Certain organic solvents will fuss contact lenses to the cornea. Students who do wear contacts in the lab must wear safetygoggles. Completed sample of the proposed Medical Informallon Form with additional safety information. In this case about contact lenses.
oratory notebook are emphasized when students are told, "We can put the lab notehook on the stretcher with you and the doctors can turn t o the inside cover for vital information and to the last page of notes to see what to treat you for". Laboratory instructors should be sure that the notebook accompanies any student sent for treatment; a person with knowledge of the incident should also accompany the student. In our experience, laboratory assistants cooperated well with the introduction of
Volume 63
these forms and reported good student compliance. Happily, the efficacy of these forms has not vet been tested bv a n actual emergency, but tirzt aid ambulance training and rxprrirnce indicate that their use s h d d facdililfe trentmrnr.
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Even If the SNdent is conscious, comparing his or her responses to the information on the form can be a good indication of "level of consciousness".
Number 10
October 1986
A247
