How to handle a medical emergency in the hospitality industry.

A medical emergency is not something that happens a lot in the hospitality industry, luckily. However, you would be surprised how much it happens overall.


When guests visit a hotel or restaurant a number of factors come into play. Choking is one of them. Guests are maybe eating foods they are not used to eating everyday and might be surprised as to the size or the texture.


We find that first aid training should be a mandatory skill before anyone can open, or even work in a  hospitality driven environment.


Let us give you a few tips on handling a medical emergency:

• Train yourself or your staff to handle any emergency. There are great books or online courses you can take. Best of course is to have a real life training. 

 

• Your first concern is the patient but not to upset or draw to much attention to the situation ask medical services to arrive without sirenes on!

 

• When you call the emergency services, the most important to state is exactly where you are. Address, room number, the floor you are on or even explain the entrance if it would be not clear.

 

• If you need additional medical information, see if you can find the victims smartphone. You don’t need to know the access code of the phone. On the home screen you can see ‘medical ID’ and see details about the patient (see picture).

• Sometimes the weight of the patient is very important. Based on this information, doctors will already prepare medication in the ambulance. The blood type can also be a factor.

 

• Upon arrival of the ambulance, communicate the name of the victim, this will help in order to talk to the patient.

 

• Relatives are also a good source of information if you have a next of kin number. Therefor think about asking a next of kin telephone number upon registration if you are running a hotel.

 

• Make sure you always have the number of the nearest doctor, emergency number or hospital at hand.

 

• If you have security standing by, try them to move any bystanders away from the scene.

 

• Shouting “is there a doctor in the room?” is still a good idea!