1. Training and Responsibilities
Danielle’s Law
Training
and
Responsibilities
Danielle’s Law was named after Danielle J. Gruskowski, who lived in a group home. Danielle died after developing a high fever and experiencing difficulty breathing.
Because 911 was not called, she did not receive medical treatment in time to save her life.
Danielle’s Law emphasizes the importance of calling 911 in a life-threatening emergency.
Issued July 2005

2. Danielle’s Law Anyone who works with individuals
with developmental disabilities
or traumatic brain injury
must call 911
in life-threatening emergencies.
Danielle’s Law applies to the following direct care staff:
Community Care Residence Providers
Direct care staff and health professionals in state facilities, developmental centers or brain injury programs
Agency staff in residential, respite, day program, or other contracted services
Tutors

3. Danielle’s Law Penalties
Staff may lose their jobs or pay a large monetary fine if they fail to call 911
Individuals who violate Danielle’s Law may be fined.
Staff who are licensed health care professionals who violate Danielle’s Law may lose their license.
Health Care Professionals may lose their licenses

4. Definition of a Life-threatening Emergency
An occurrence or threat of a potentially fatal injury
Impairment to a bodily function
The definition of “life-threatening” includes situations in which death may be imminent, and situations in which there is an injury to bodily functions or a body part.
For example, a burn situation may be life-
threatening due to the risk of infection.
Dysfunction of a bodily organ or part

5. Employee/Provider Responsibilities
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies
File an incident report according to Department and Division procedures
After calling 911 for a life-threatening emergency, the call must be reported to DDD Regional Office or the Critical Incident Management Unit (TBI programs) as a Incident Report.
A record of all calls should be kept on file.
Maintain a record of all 911 calls

6. Services Responsibilities
Department of Human
Services Responsibilities
Ensures training is provided to service providers
Maintains records of provider calls
to 911
This training will fulfill the requirements of Danielle’s Law. The training was designed to be utilized for Community Care Residences and will be made available for provider agencies, traumatic brain injury programs, and developmental center staff.
Reviews potential violations of Danielle’s Law

7. Services Responsibilities
Department of Human
Services Responsibilities
(continued)
Maintains records of all violations
Reviews violation records when licenses and contracts are issued or renewed
The Department of Human Services has a process in place for reviewing violations of Danielle’s Law and is maintaining a record of violations which can be utilized to make decisions regarding licensing of programs.

8. Civil Penalties to Individual Violators of Danielle’s Law
First offense: $5,000.00
Second offense: $10,000.00
The penalties for violation of Danielle’s Law are severe. No one can afford not to call 911 in event of a life-threatening emergency.
Each individual who violates the law is subject to a possible fine.
Third and each subsequent offense: $25,000.00

9. Life-threatening Events
How to Respond to
Life-threatening Events
Check – for a life-threatening situation
Call – 911
Care – follow the directions of Emergency Responders
The procedure for response to a life-threatening emergency is consistent with the American Red Cross Standard First Aid training.
Check the individual for symptoms of a
life-threatening emergency
Call 911 and follow the directions of the EMS dispatcher.
Provide care that you were trained to do if you have completed a standard first aid or CPR course.

10. Call 911 for Life-threatening Emergencies
Medical
Life-threatening
Conditions
Examples of medical emergencies include the following: (This list does not contain all situations that may be life-threatening.)
Is unresponsive to pain or stimuli
Is unconscious, unusually confused or seems to be losing consciousness
Has trouble breathing, is not breathing, is breathing in a strange way
Has persistent fever that doesn’t respond to PRN medication and results in additional symptoms, such as difficulties breathing
Has weak pulse or no pulse
Has persistent chest pain, discomfort or pressure for more than 3-5 minutes or that goes away and comes back
Has severe or uncontrollable bleeding from any body part (leg or arm)
Has weak. low, or no blood pressure
Has visible or non visible signs of a break or fracture to a major limb or bone. (Non-visible, body part or limb is not functioning normal)
Complains of sudden onset of severe headache or has unusually slurred speech
Has a seizure that lasts more than five minutes, recurs, results in injury or occurs in someone who is pregnant or diabetic. Also call if it is the first seizure or if there are multiple seizures.
Has serious injuries to head, neck, or back
Unsafe Situations

11. Call 911 in Unsafe Situations as Indicated in Red Cross Training
Fire or explosion
Downed electrical wires
Possible poisonous agents
Natural gas odor in the building
This list does not include all situations that may be unsafe and are potentially life-threatening. The American Red Cross Training provides these examples of when 911 should be called.
Situations in which a natural gas odor in the building occurs may be very dangerous, and require that staff follow the emergency procedures recommended by the utility company. In the event of a fire in the building or a natural gas odor in the building, leave the building and call 911 from a safe area outside of the building.
Included in this list are situations in which licensing regulations require a 911 response.
Terrorist type threats or
acts, such as bomb threat,
bio-toxic agents

12. Danielle’s Law Penalties
No Call to 911 = VIOLATION
It is important to note that a delay in calling 911 is also a violation.
The Department of Human Services has a process in place for reviewing incidents to determine if a Danielle’s Law violation has occurred.
Delayed Call to 911 = VIOLATION

13. 911 Call When In Doubt Danielle’s Law
Remember that when Danielle’s situation occurred, she had a high fever, was perspiring profusely, and was gasping for air. Staff did not call 911.
Don’t let anyone discourage you from making a call to 911 if you think it is a life-threatening emergency.

14. DDD Regional Offices Northern Region Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex,
Morris, and Warren Counties
(973) (Flanders Office)
(973) (Paterson Office)
Lower Central Region
Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, Hunterdon and Monmouth Counties
(609) (Trenton Office)
(732) (Freehold Office)
Southern Region
Burlington, Camden, Atlantic,
Salem, Cape May, Gloucester,
and Cumberland Counties
(856) (Voorhees Office)
(609) (Mays Landing Office)
Upper Central Region
Essex, Somerset, and Union Counties
(908)
When a life-threatening emergency occurs, and 911 is called, the case manager can be contacted at your county regional office, during the working hours or you can speak to the On-Call worker after hours and on the holidays.