In veterinary medicine, the practitioner is exposed to a number of health risks, not the least of which is accidental injury. During your training, accidental injury from animal bites, scratches, stab wounds, needle sticks, animal kicks, etc., may occur. IF YOU SUSTAIN AN ACCIDENTAL INJURY: 1) OBTAIN MEDICAL CARE, 2) INFORM THE COURSEMASTER OR SUPERVISING STAFF PERSON, AND 3) FILE AN "SVM STUDENT INJURY REPORT" WITH THE DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS OFFICE. Appropriate medical care can only be obtained from trained medical professionals. Do not expect to receive medical care (except first aid) and/or medical advice from the faculty/staff. Even trivial-looking wounds can expose a person to severe infections, including possible rabies exposure. Seek medical care from PUSH (see below) or your personal physician without delay. Reporting of the incident to the instructor of record will help assure that dangerous conditions are alleviated and that appropriate materials are obtained, which may be needed to follow up on your injury (vaccination records, cultures, tissues for testing, etc.). A school-wide reporting system has been designed to help identify problem areas and develop appropriate safety policies.
Medical emergencies should be reported to the Purdue University Police. Anyone witnessing an accident or injury should provide necessary first aid and encourage the victim to seek immediate medical attention. Any witnessed accident or injury should be reported to the departmental business office who, in turn, will generate a written report of the incident. Should an injured person refuse medical assistance, urge them to seek treatment and then document the interactions on the accident report.
Purdue University is not responsible for paying medical bills for injuries sustained by students enrolled at Purdue when there is no negligence on the part of the University. The bills for incurred medical costs are the responsibility of the student. Students do not qualify for Workman's Compensation. For non-emergency situations, general office visits at PUSH are free to students during normal, working hours; however, lab work, x-rays, medicine, vaccines, etc., are not free, but are available for students at reduced costs. Following an accident, Hospital Form 22 should be obtained from the departmental business office and "STUDENT" should be written in the space for the account number.
Purdue ambulance service is available free of charge to anyone on campus, including clients in our clinics. Should a client become ill and wish to be taken to a Lafayette hospital, the service is still free unless a paramedic is needed rather than the EMT who is already on the Purdue payroll. The cost of the paramedic would be the only expense. Any student will be taken to PUSH or to any Lafayette hospital of their choice free of charge.
