Awareness
When it comes to the health and safety of hundreds of female scholars on a school campus, peace of mind is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Priority medical attention
Noèline Stumpfe is the headmistress of St Michael's School for Girls in Bloemfontein. As she explains, the school runs a busy programme of sports and events throughout the year. It has close to 800 learners, from Grade 000 all the way through to Grade 12, including 45 boarders in the hostel.
“We’ve always had an emergency medical presence at our activities, but with multiple events happening simultaneously across the city, securing reliable providers was a constant challenge,” she says. “Other schools would book the same providers.”
After partnering with ER24’s Scholar Care programme, St Michael’s now has guaranteed access to reliable emergency medical support. By submitting its event calendar in advance, St Michael’s knows that ER24’s emergency medical coverage will be available for every scheduled event. “We now get preference over other schools and colleges when we have an activity,” Stumpfe says.
Beyond the school gates
The relationship has already been tested in real-life playground situations. On one occasion, a learner slipped and fell on campus. Stumpfe and her team were uncertain about the severity of the fall – and whether she had suffered a head injury or concussion. The girl was a hostel boarder, and her mother could not be reached straightaway.
“We contacted ER24 immediately for a professional evaluation,” says Stumpfe. “They assessed the learner and provided a written report that was filed on her school record. Thankfully it turned out she was fine, but we obviously wanted to make sure."
The school has called on ER24 for other minor injuries during the school day, including ankle sprains and falls during hockey and netball. While the hostel has not yet needed emergency assistance at night, Stumpfe knows the support is there if required.
The benefit of belonging to ER24’s Scholar Care programme extends beyond the school grounds. As Stumpfe points out, the arrangement also provides a layer of safety when learners are travelling. “If something were to happen on the road or we were in an accident, ER24 is just a phone call away for immediate first aid assistance."
Tailored medical solutions
ER24’s presence at St Michael's is not one-size-fits-all solution. The level of cover is determined by the size and the risk profile of the activity. “It’s not only the size of the event, but also how dangerous the sport is,” Stumpfe explains. “For instance, with hockey matches, we usually have an ambulance on site. In comparison, netball injuries tend to be less severe – sprained fingers or ankles or falls. But it’s still beneficial to have professional emergency medical crews on hand.”
Even during regular practice sessions, ER24’s presence has made a difference. "Sometimes a girl doesn’t feel well during a sports practice and it’s reassuring to know an ER24 crew is here to assist,” Stumpf says. The law requires schools to have enough first aiders on site for the number of people on campus, and ER24 consistently ensures this standard is met. Cover isn’t limited to formal sports days as ER24 Scholar Care also covers the school's annual community fair, for example.
An added benefit: first-aid training
The partnership with ER24 has also extended into staff training. Teachers at St Michael's must hold a basic first-aid certificate as part of their professional obligations. To ensure these certificates remain up to date, ER24 trainers visit the campus to provide first-aid refresher training for staff.
Having partnered with ER24 for two years, Stumpfe is a firm advocate for the Scholar Care programme. “They're visible, they’re professional, and they know what they're doing."