Protecting Student Safety

For most incoming college students, considerations of health and personal safety are one of the furthest concerns from their minds. Issues such as adjusting to life in a new environment, trying to decide on a future career path, and exploring the abundance of opportunities for new experiences typically take far greater precedence than safety concerns.

Nevertheless, ensuring student safety in college is a serious issue. Every year, tens of thousands of college students in the United States suffer a significant injury or illness, potentially having a highly consequential impact on their college career. Therefore, it is important for students to know how to cope with this type of unfortunate circumstance.

If a student or someone they know suffers a serious medical emergency, it is critical that they seek medical attention as soon as possible. Most universities offer students medical services in some capacity, and for those that don’t, undergraduate advisors will be able to direct students to the nearest medical care facility. If the injury is of significant severity, an emergency call to 911 may be necessary.

Finding ways to pay for medical care can be more of a challenge. Many colleges offer students a health insurance plan to ensure that they can access the medical care they may need in this type of situation. Stanford University, for example, offers students a health plan known as Cardinal Care to help pay for any injuries or illnesses they may experience during their time at the university. Many other universities, in both California and throughout the country, offer students similar healthcare plans. However, the details of what these plans cover can vary significantly, so it’s important that students understand what types of care their insurance coverage offers.

Unfortunately, not all injuries and illnesses may be adequately covered by an insurance policy. In these circumstances, finding ways to afford the necessary medical care can be more difficult. If a student’s injury was caused by a workplace accident, they may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits by working with a legal professional who has experience handling cases like theirs, such as a Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyer . If their injury or illness was caused by someone else, financial compensation can be pursued by working with a Urbana personal injury lawyer , or a similar legal professional in their area. Finally, some injured students may be able to get free or inexpensive medical care at clinics that provide services to low-income individuals.