Medical emergencies can happen at anytime.
Campus Safety Services (CSS) responds to all medical emergencies on campus. Their role is to assess the emergency, render care if needed and determine what response is appropriate. CSS staff is trained in first aid and CPR/AED use. SCU EMS, comprised of student Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) may also respond to render care.
If the patient is experiencing any of the following medical signs, IMMEDIATELY CALL or TEXT 911 (if safe):
- Unconscious, or may have experienced momentary unconsciousness
- Head injury
- Bleeding profusely
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Choking*
When reporting medical emergencies be prepared to provide the patient’s location, illness/injury, and name, as well as your own name and callback number.
You should be prepared to brief the responding personnel about what you know about the patient, particularly their age. Also of interest to responding personnel is a patients pre-existing medical conditions, current medications, known allergies, what they’ve eaten that day, and if/how much drugs/alcohol they’ve consumed.
For cardiac-related emergencies, There a number of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) placed throughout campus. Proper AED use is part of the AHA Out-of-hospital Chain of Survival that can improve chances of survival and recovery for victims of cardiac arrest.
- Santa Clara County L.I.F.E. File: Lifesaving Information For Emergencies
- Set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone
*The University has one publicly accessible LifeVac anti-choking rescue device, co-located inside the Benson Memorial Center first floor AED cabinet. As of March 4, 2026, LifeVac is the FDA-authorized anti-choking device currently authorized for marketing and distribution in the United States as a second-line treatment for complete airway obstruction in adults and children age 1 and older.
LifeVac is not a replacement for standard choking response. If a person is choking, call or text 911 immediately if safe to do so, begin established choking rescue measures right away (5 back blows, 5 abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts for infants <1 year), and use LifeVac only after standard basic life support choking measures have been attempted and are unsuccessful, or when those measures cannot be effectively performed.
Learn how to use a LifeVac by following this LINK to a training video.