Throughout your RA experience you will need to be prepared to respond in a crisis situation. The following protocol outlines how various kinds of situations need to be handled. It is your responsibility to know your role in crisis response. Remember you are never alone or solely responsible to solve an issue on your own. Following the Crisis Protocols you will be a strong link that connects a student or situation in need with the next level of care.
During RA training you were trained on a method of suicide prevention known as QPR below is a brief overview of what you learned and a reminder of what to do if you suspect someone might be suicidal.
It feels scary to ask a person if they have thoughts of death or killing themselves. Even though it feels scary, it is crucial that we directly ask a person if they are thinking about harming themselves. It is common to fear that asking these kinds of questions will cause someone to harm themselves, but we know that asking direct questions is the first step to identifying how best to help someone.
As you speak with someone, your goal is to persuade them to be willing to get help.
You are not expected to be an expert, but it is important that you know how to refer someone to the person who is best trained to help someone who is suicidal.
If you learn about a concern regarding a student’s safety due to threat of suicide, please follow these guidelines:
If a student is saying something vague that leaves you with an impression that they might not be safe, then be sure to use your skills learned in QPR to ask directly about their safety. You might say something like “When you say you have no hope that makes me concerned, and I really care about you. I want to make sure I am understanding how you are doing right now. Are you having thoughts about dying or hurting yourself?” If the student is a threat to themselves, you will need to call the Res Life professional staff member on call.
If a student mentions they saw something vague on Facebook that made them concerned about their friend, find the friend and use your QPR skills to better understand the vague statements. Because of the nature of the concern this conversation needs to be a priority. If the student is a threat to themselves, you will need to call the Res life professional staff on call. If you need help finding this person, call the Res Life professional staff on-call.
You are a necessary link in helping a struggling student get connected to resources. You are empowered to ask these seemingly uncomfortable but vital questions.
You are not alone! Your RD/AC is a great coach to help you feel prepared to handle a situation like this. Whenever a student is suicidal you need to contact the Res Life professional staff on call as they are the next link in getting a struggling student the support they need.
Never leave a suicidal student alone. If you need to call the Res Life professional staff on-call and are alone with the student, you may call in the presence of the student, just explain to the student what you are doing and why.
After you call the Res Life professional staff on call, the person on call will likely come and talk with the student and determine if further measures should be taken in order to ensure the student’s immediate safety.
In the event that a student needs transportation to an outside medical treatment facility, our prevailing approach should be one of assistance and support, particularly when students lack appropriate local support from family or friends.
First, if a student needs medical attention:
From 8am-5pm, Call Calvin Health Services Triage Nurse: 616-526-6187
For after-hours, non-emergency first-aid assistance, call campus safety 616-526-6452
For after-hours phone consult, Call Blodgett and ask for a nurse: 616-774-7444
This may help you determine whether to take the student to Urgent Care or ER
In emergency situations: Call Campus Safety Emergency at 616-526-3333 from cell phone. Tell them your name, situation, and your exact location.
In medical-related situations where a trip to the hospital, emergency room, urgent care, or med-center is warranted (as determined by Health Services staff, Campus Safety supervisors, Blodgett nurseline, or Residence Life professional staff):
A determination will be made if the situation is acute or serious enough to warrant transportation by ambulance. If an ambulance is called to respond the situation initially, then the ambulance will be the default method of transportation, unless waived by the student and other transportation coordinated by the student.
If the situation does not warrant ambulance transportation (and thus is less than acute or serious), an effort will be made by the responding staff to coordinate transportation through family members (if local), friends, roommates, suitemates, RAs or ACs/RDs.
Recommend that the student bring their health insurance ID card or obtain (via phone call to parent) their health insurance ID number.
When checking into the hospital or urgent care, please recommend that the student add Dr. Champion at Calvin Health Services as one of their primary care physicians. They may also list their family doctor from back home. This will enable Dr. Champion be notified when a student is in the ER or urgent care when the reason for visit is serious. It also allows Health Services to understand the post-hospital expectations and additional care needed.
Once the student has arrived at the hospital or med-center, a determination will be made about if or how long the transportation provider should stay (default will be to stay with the student until family arrives or the situation stabilizes).
If student is admitted to hospital, encourage the student to contact his/her parents and inform them of the situation. If the student is unable to contact parents, the Res Life professional staff member on-call should contact the parents and inform them of the situation.
Before 8am the following day, the staff (RA and/or RD/AC) involved should fill out a Student Care Report.
Note: In serious medical emergencies, always notify the Res Life professional staff member on-call, who can help coordinate care and communication with parents and the chaplain on-call when appropriate. It is not necessary to notify the Res Life Professional staff member on-call when taking a student to Urgent Care.
Go to ER for: coughing up blood or vomiting blood, difficulty breathing, fracture, heart attack or stroke symptoms, head injury (severe), loss of consciousness, seizure, severe abdominal pain, or severe bleeding or burn
To consult a nurse call Blodgett at (616) 774-7444 and ask to speak with a nurse)
Closest: Blodgett Hospital
1840 Wealthy Street SE
(616) 774-7444
Usually the shortest wait time
Second Closest: St. Mary’s Hospital
200 Jefferson Ave. SE
(616) 685-6789
Third Closest: Butterworth Hospital
100 Michigan St. NE
(616) 391-1774
Go to Urgent Care for: abrasions/cuts, minor stitches, allergies, asthma attacks (minor), bruises, burns (minor), colds, coughs, throat pain, flu, ear, eye, and skin infections, eye injuries (minor), fevers, sprains or strains, stitches, urinary tract infections, and X-rays
Note: You may want to have the student call ahead to ensure they will accept the student's insurance.
Mercy Urgent Care
1471 East Beltline NE
(616) 685-3414
8 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week
AFC Urgent Care
1740 28th St SE
(616) 202-5159
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
There are more urgent care centers near Calvin
Panic attacks are bouts of extreme anxiety or fear. They are scary but almost never life-threatening. The following reviews some signs and symptoms of a panic attack and steps to help you learn what to do if someone is experiencing one.
Racing thoughts
Feeling of unreality
Palpitations or chest pain, hot flashes or chills
Dizziness, lightheaded (caused by hyperventilating)
Speeding up of the heart rate
Rapid or over-breathing
Headaches, backaches
Nausea
Trembling
Tingling in fingers or toes
Sweating
Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing
Bring calm to the area. If there are people around, ask most of them to go back to their own rooms and pray. If possible, bring the person to a calm, quiet, private location.
Ask the student about what’s going on with them. When did they start to feel symptoms? What brought on the symptoms? Have they ever felt this way before? Under what circumstances? Do they have any medical issues related to these symptoms (like asthma)? If they’ve never had a panic attack before and they can’t breathe or are having heart problems, it may be a serious medical issue (heart attack, asthma attack) -- get them to the hospital (call 911).
Ask about their cause for fear and seek to remove the trigger or remove the student from the trigger.
If they are breathing too quickly (common), ask them to breathe on your count. Start with in for 2 seconds, out for 2 seconds, then increase to 4 or 5 until breathing is regulated. You may also ask them to match your breathing as you breathe steadily and slowly.
If they want to move, don’t restrain them. Encourage them to walk, stretch or do jumping jacks, or accomplish a physical task (clean them room, etc.).
Gently remind them of reality if their fears are irrational (watch your tone--don’t patronize).
Don’t pressure them to come up with answers if they’re having a hard time.
Keep them comfortable.
Ask if you can pray for/with them.
If nothing helps within 20 minutes, call the Res Life professional staff member on call who will come and assess the situation and possibly solicit more outside help. If the student wants to go to the ER then take them, but don’t push this option-- taking them to the ER may cause more anxiety, and is not usually necessary.
Alert the Res Life professional staff member on call if there is any indication of suicidal ideation.
Make sure they have non-stressful plans for the rest of the day -- help them focus on the basics -- eating, sleeping, drinking water, and getting through the day.
Follow-up: Later, suggest they talk to a counselor to teach them anxiety-management techniques or attend the “Anxiety Toolbox” workshop series.
If a student is having a life-threatening emergency Residence Life staff member should:
1. Dial 616-526-3333 from a cell phone.
a. Inform Campus Safety Dispatch that you have an emergency situation.
b. Identify yourself by name and request services of an ambulance.
c. Be sure to give Campus Safety your exact location.
2. RAs: Contact Res Life professional staff members on call and inform them of situation
3. RAs are not routinely trained in first aid or CPR, but if you have been trained in first aid or CPR, you are free to provide these services, to the extent of your competency. Campus safety staff respond within minutes and are trained in first aid, CPR, and AEDs, and will take over offering care once they arrive.
4. Inform students there has been an emergency and direct other students to remain in their rooms. You may also ask a group of students to go to various doors of the dorm to help direct emergency workers to the room. This provides a helpful service and also helps:
a. to prevent crowds from being in the way
b. to prevent crowd hysteria
c. to protect the student’s privacy
5. When rescue personnel arrive, direct them to the room. Introduce yourself as a college student staff member and let them know a college official is on the way. Stand outside the door and keep the hallway clear of people.
6. After the ambulance departs, the first residence hall staff member involved (often RA), along with the AC/RD, should write up a detailed report on the sequence of events.
7. The Residence Life professional staff member on-call may also call for additional support from:
a. Director of Residence Life
b. Director of Housing
c. Dean of Students
d. Vice President for Student Life
e. Chaplain
In the event of a lockdown, tornado, or active shooter you will be notified via Calvin’s Emergency Notification system. Sign up for this service ASAP by https://www.getrave.com/login/calvin
Strategies:
Stay calm and communicate with residents (via text, social media, phone calls, in person) that there is a lockdown on campus and instruct students to:
Not leave the building
Stay in their rooms, lock doors, and stay away from windows
Alert others about the lockdown, in case some are not on RAVE
Stay in lockable rooms, not communal spaces like lobby, hallway, basement
Use window sticks to lock windows (first floor residents)
Close window shades, silence cell phones, dim lights
Do not barricade exits in case another emergency occurred
Be firm, but do not physically restrain students. It may be better to let them leave than to create panic or a physical altercation – use your best judgment.
Stay close to your phone and/or front entrance to receive further information and/or “next step” instructions from Campus Safety.
Note: you CAN swipe INTO dorms and KE buildings during a lockdown.
Notify your AC/RD if a death or illness in the family requires a resident to be away from the hall for an extended period of time.
Some ways to support the student include:
Attempt to alleviate any pressure on the resident.
Notify your supervisor, who will notify the Residence Life Office to notify professors.
If student needs financial help with obtaining transportation home, contact your supervisor or Jane Prins jmp26@calvin.edu to inquire about the “Student Care Fund”
Your supervisor will remind the RA and SET to send an appropriate remembrance from the Residence Hall when an immediate family member dies.
While it is not possible to be aware of all forty or more floor members’ whereabouts, Resident Assistants are expected to be aware of each resident and their presence on the floor.
When a resident is frequently absent overnight or absent for a length of time:
Report this to your supervisor.
The next time you see the student; inquire about absences, check to see if everything is okay.
If a student is missing and whereabouts are unknown, contact your supervisor. DO NOT CALL THE PARENTS.
At some point during the year, you may be called upon to inquire about a student’s repeated absences from class. Take these requests seriously, as absence may be a symptom of a deeper problem.
If a potentially suicidal student is missing, contact Res Life professional staff member on-call
Residence Life staff member should:
Inform your RD/AC as soon as possible.
If the illness is extended or if a hospitalization is involved, your supervisor will inform the Residence Life Office, who will then contact the student’s professors. Do not contact the student’s professors.
If a resident is confined to their room, fill out a sick tray request form for each meal. If you are unable to get the food from the dining hall, enlist the help of other students on the floor.
Refer any questions from the student or parents to your supervisor.
If you see someone who doesn’t belong in your community, call campus safety. This could include:
People in masks
Suspicious-looking people (perhaps a person older than college age, no Calvin staff shirt or ID badge, not with students)
Solicitors
Non-residents coming to use laundry
When in doubt, call campus safety, they can check on it.
Don’t engage with a suspicious person, rather: Keep track of the person without putting yourself in danger. Let campus safety know where the person is, and they can talk to them.
In the case of solicitors, you may confront them: inform them that soliciting is not allowed, escort them out the building, and call Campus Safety: give them a description of the solicitor and their direction of travel.
If you hear receive an emergency text message stating that a Tornado Watch is in effect, stay tuned with your phone nearby. If a tornado is sighted in the area, a “Tornado Warning” will be issued, and residents must take shelter.
If you hear receive an emergency text message stating that a Tornado Warning has been issued:
Alert residents to the imminent tornado threat and tell them to move to basements of Residence halls. The hallways and laundry rooms are the best locations (away from windows). This is one situation where you should use a loud and authoritative tone of voice. Don’t scream hysterically, but stress to residents the urgency of the situation. Tornados are highly dangerous and students should understand the severity (some students come from places that don’t have tornados). Students outside should come inside. If a student refuses to take shelter, leave them and take shelter yourself.
Students should remain in shelter until “all clear” signal has been issued via text messaging.
When the fire alarm sounds, all Resident Assistants will report to the lobby. Resident Assistants should take their keys with them. On the way to the lobby, Resident Assistants should be indicating (in a loud, authoritative, calm voice) for residents to clear the building.
The first staff member to report to the lobby will assume the following responsibilities:
Check fire indicator box for location of fire.
Grab the fire checklist clipboard from behind the desk.
Assign other staff members or other responsible students if no other Resident Assistants are available to the locations of the possible fire as indicated on the fire indicator box.
Clear the building.
Complete the instructions on the fire checklist being first concerned about clearing the hall in which the fire is located. When checking floors, Resident Assistants should knock on rooms but do not key in.
After completing the checklist, (thereby clearing the entire building) the RA with the clipboard should clear the main lobby and stand in front of the front doors.
Guard the front door until the emergency or drill is over.
No one will be permitted back in the building until Campus Safety or the Resident Director gives the all clear.
RAs should not put themselves at risk. If an RA feels the situation is too dangerous, they should defer to fire personnel.
If you become aware of a situation where someone has experienced sexual harassment or stalking, then you will need to respond with the following steps:
If the person is in fear of immediate danger, contact the Res Life Professional Staff member on call.
If not, then listen well to the student’s experience.
Share with the student that you would like to connect with your RD/AC and will follow up with them the next day.
Contact your RD/AC within 24 hours.
Your RD/AC will advise you on necessary follow up.
As an RA, you may have a student come to you to talk about their experience with sexual assault. It is likely that this conversation will play out in one of two scenarios. 1) A student has just experienced an assault within the past few days or 2) a student is sharing about a sexual assault that happened in the past.
As an RA, you are a mandated reporter at Calvin College. This means that due to your leadership position and relationship with the college, when you become aware of a sexual assault, you must report it to your direct supervisor. This reporting will be handled confidentially and will be taken directly to one of our Safer Spaces Coordinators. The Safer Spaces Coordinators will work closely with a survivor to provide any level of care or investigation that the survivor expresses a desire for. Reporting does not mean that the survivor no longer has control of the steps that are taken, it simply helps keep the college accountable to supporting any person who experiences this kind of trauma.
Below is a general guideline for how to handle a situation where someone reports a sexual assault:
Your job is first to take seriously the person who is sharing their experience.
Make sure you are in a private location
Listen well, do not rush them as they are sharing what happened.
Say “I believe you” and “It’s not your fault” and “I’m so sorry this happened to you”
The presence of alcohol is a significant barrier to reporting assault. Let the student know that in instances of assault, the priority is to help support the student through their trauma and there will not be official judicial sanctions for the alcohol.
If a student is sharing with you about an assault that happened in the past, and there is no immediate threat to their safety or action that can be taken, then you will likely be a listener and safe person to affirm you believe them and this was not their fault.
It is a good idea to find out what the student needs or hopes to get from the conversation. It might be simply to be heard and known, or it might be because they are experience distress in daily living and might want help from The Center for Counseling and Wellness or Campus Ministries.
Consult with your RD/AC within 24 hours of the report. Your RD/AC will be someone you can process this with and talk about any necessary follow-up.
If a student is sharing with you about an assault that happened within the past 5 days (120 hours), then your response will also include letting them know that you believe them and that what happened to them is not their fault. Due to the fact the assault took place within 5 days, the survivor has more options related to evidence collection and may need medical attention. In this instance, follow these steps:
After you’ve listened well and the survivor does not have anything pressing to say, then you can share that your role as an RA can be to support them and help them gain access to resources they may need or want.
Ask resident if you can involve the Residence Life professional staff member on-call or the survivor’s RD/AC. Stress that this is someone who partners with RAs to make sure our students receive the best care and help in the moments when they need it most.
The survivor may not want the Residence Life professional staff member on call involved. You can still consult with the RD/AC afterwards on call and follow up with the survivor.
Encourage resident to go to the YWCA (RD/AC can help with this) - Advise them not to bathe, brush their teeth or change their clothes. The YWCA can provides free STD testing, medical exams, medical treatment, and can collect and store evidence, in case they ever want it. The YWCA has a 24 hour on-call nurse that can help anyone who has experienced assault: 616-454-YWCA (9922)
YWCA address is 25 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, RD/AC on-call can drive the student here, if student is willing.
Safer Spaces – Jane Hendriksma works with survivor to help them with anything they need including academic accommodations, housing changes, no contact orders, etc
The Center for Counseling and Wellness is a confidential place to receive support
Remember this situation must be kept confidential. If you are needing to process what happened, then you may speak with your direct supervisor, a counselor or a Campus Ministries Chaplain.