The director of the student health center will supervise medical disaster emergencies occurring on campus. Relief measures are principally the responsibility of the student health center, even if the emergency reaches the point where it threatens to disrupt the operations of the university or cause temporary closure. This could include a wide range of situations, such as mass food poisoning or viral epidemics. The nature and the timing of any given medical emergency may require coordination by public safety with the Emergency Assistance Staff First Aid team and Sibley Hospital.

A. Actions:

• The director of the student health center will coordinate with the vice president of campus life in recommending to the president a declaration of disaster and implementation of this policy.
• The president or his designee will notify media relations and public safety of the declaration of emergency.
• Media relations will coordinate with the president and the special assistant to the president to establish a media staging area and they will select a single spokesperson and prepare a statement.
• During an emergency, media relations will provide timely updates to the campus and the media.
• In accordance with directives received, the director of the student health center will obtain required assistance for lodging, feeding, transporting or protecting patients, their property and AU's property.
• All previous student health center appointments will be rescheduled; walk-in services will be suspended until the emergency is resolved.
• In preparing for mass casualties, additional supplies will be obtained by purchasing. Medical supplies normally on hand should be adequate for minor injuries to a limited number of victims.
• In the event of an unplanned disaster, the staff will assist with triage and first aid to the extent possible while relying on community agencies and providers for primary care and transportation of victims. Psychological services and student health staff will assist with crisis intervention counseling.
• In the event of a communicable disease outbreak/epidemic, the District of Columbia Health Department serves as the local authority. This entity would direct the student health center staff on matters of control and containment. Student health staff will assist with reporting, identifying and notifying contacts, isolation practices, mass immunizations and updated advisories.
• Where mass immunizations are indicated, the United States Public Health Service frequently absorbs the vaccine costs associated with mass immunizing at-risk individuals. Administrative costs, financial and otherwise, associated with mass vaccination, quarantine, hospitalizations and disruption of the academic and business functions of the university are impossible to predict and plan for as each possible scenario would require individual consideration.