Safety and Medical Care on Campus

In a community of more than 30,000 people, minor and even serious illnesses or injuries happen. Our campus community is no exception. There is help close by and actions you should take if you—or someone else—needs medical attention on campus.

The first step when an injury or other medical incident occurs is to assess the seriousness of the situation and determine if professional medical care is needed. If there’s any question, it’s better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention, especially in the case of head injuries, chest pains or other potentially serious conditions.

The KU Lawrence campus also is fortunate to have a fire station with emergency personnel only blocks away. In the case of a serious—or potentially serious—medical emergency, call 911. Even on Edwards and other KU campuses, EMTs are typically only minutes away. They can assess the condition, render some onsite medical care and transport to a hospital if needed.

KU research labs, workshops and studios are equipped with first aid kits, as are some administrative offices. Individuals in those areas may be able to provide medical supplies, but are not trained to provide medical treatment.

Medical Help for Students

For most illness or injuries on the Lawrence campus, Watkins Health Services located in Watkins Memorial Health Center provides medical treatment and supplies to students. Watkins will refer students with some serious illness or injuries to an external provider of the student’s choice, calling for emergency transportation if needed.

Medical Help for Faculty and Staff

For most acute illnesses or non-work related injuries on the Lawrence campus, Watkins Health Services located in Watkins Memorial Health Center provides medical treatment and supplies to faculty and staff members through the Immediate Care Clinic. Watkins will refer faculty and staff to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for work-related illness or injury; or to another medical provider if ongoing or emergency treatment is needed.

You should report any work-related injury or medical incident to your supervisor as soon as possible, even if you don’t seek medical treatment. KU provides workers’ compensation coverage to all employees, including student employees and part-time employees. Learn more about workers’ compensation.

Questions?

To learn more about health and safety at KU, contact the Department of Environment, Health & Safety at ehsdept@ku.edu or 785-864-4089, or visit their website at ehs.ku.edu.