First Aid Policy/Procedure’s

Introduction

The aims of our first aid policy are to:

• Ensure the health and safety of all staff, pupils and visitors
• Ensure that staff and governors are aware of their responsibilities with regards to health and safety
• Provide a framework for responding to an incident and recording and reporting the outcomes

Queen Margaret Primary School is committed to providing emergency first aid provision in order to deal with accidents and incidents affecting staff, pupils and visitors. The arrangements within this policy are based on the results of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment carried out by the school in regard to all staff, pupils and visitors.

The school takes every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff, pupils and visitors. Details of such precautions are noted in the following policies:

1. Health and Safety Policy
2. Behaviour Policy
3. Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

The school’s Business Manager /lead First Aider has overall responsibility for ensuring that the school has adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel, and for ensuring that the correct first aid procedures are followed.

Legislation and guidance

This policy is based on the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, advice from the Department for Education on first aid in schools and health and safety in schools, and the following legislation:

• The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which state that employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment and facilities to enable first aid to be administered to employees, and qualified first aid personnel
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, which require employers to make an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, and arrange for appropriate information and training
• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013, which state that some accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and set out the timeframe for this and how long records of such accidents must be kept
• Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, which set out rules on the retention of accident records
• The School Premises (England) Regulations 2012, which require that suitable space is provided to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupil.

Aims

All staff will read and be aware of this policy, know who to contact in the event of any illness, accident or injury, and ensure that this policy is followed.

Staff will always use their best endeavours to secure the welfare of pupils. Anyone on the school premises is expected to take reasonable care for their own and other’s safety.

The aims of this policy are to:

• Ensure that the school has adequate, safe and effective first aid provision for every pupil, member of staff and visitor to be well looked after in the event of any illness, accident or injury, no matter how major or minor.
• Ensure that staff and pupils are aware of the procedures in the event of any illness, accident or injury.
• Ensure that medicines are only administered at the school when express permission has been granted for this.
• Ensure that all medicines are appropriately stored.
• Promote effective infection control.

Nothing in this policy will affect the ability of any person to contact the emergency services in the event of a medical emergency. For the avoidance of doubt, staff should dial 999 in the event of a medical emergency before implementing the terms of this policy and make clear arrangements for liaison with ambulance services on the school site.

To achieve the aims of this policy, the school will have suitably stocked first aid boxes in line with the assessment of needs . Where there is no special risk identified, a minimum provision of first aid items will be as follows:

• A leaflet giving general advice on first aid
• 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings, of assorted sizes
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
• 6 safety pins
• 6 medium-sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 2 large-sized (approximately 18cm x 18cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 1 pair of disposable gloves
• Equivalent or additional items are acceptable
• All first aid containers will be identified by a white cross on a green background

The lead first aider is responsible for examining the contents of first aid boxes, including any mobile first aid boxes for offsite use – these will be frequently checked and restocked as soon as possible after use. Items will be safely discarded after the expiry date has passed.

First aid boxes are in the following areas:

• The Woodpecker Room
• Every Classroom

First aiders

The main duties of first aiders will be to administer immediate first aid to pupils, staff or visitors, and to ensure that an ambulance or other professional medical help is called, when necessary.

First aiders will ensure that their first aid certificates are kept up-to-date through liaison with the School Business Manager

Each classroom’s first aiders will be responsible for ensuring all first aid kits are properly stocked and maintained. The first aid appointed person(s) will be responsible for maintaining supplies.

The current first aid appointed person(s) are:

All other staff have Basic First Aid training

There are also three members of staff who have Emergency First Aid at Work
certificates – Dale Wootton/Kim Watts

First Aiders are responsible for:

• Taking charge when someone is injured or becomes ill
• Ensuring there is an adequate supply of medical materials in first aid kits, and replenishing the contents of these kits
• Ensuring that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when appropriate

First aiders are trained and qualified to carry out the role and are responsible for:

• Acting as first responders to any incidents; they will assess the situation where there is an injured or ill person, and provide immediate and appropriate treatment
• Sending pupils home to recover, where necessary
• Filling in an accident report on the same day, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, after an incident
• Keeping their contact details up to date

Responsibilities

The Local Authority and Governing board

Gloucestershire Local Authority has ultimate responsibility for health and safety matters in the school, but delegates responsibility for the strategic management of such matters to the school’s governing board.

The Governing board delegates operational matters and day-to-day tasks to the Headteacher and staff members.

The Governing Board

The governing board has ultimate responsibility for health and safety matters in the school, but delegates operational matters and day-to-day tasks to the Headteacher and staff members.

The Headteacher

The Headteacher is responsible for the implementation of this policy, including:

• Ensuring that an appropriate number of trained first aid personnel are present in the school at all times
• Ensuring that first aiders have an appropriate qualification, keep training up to date and remain competent to perform their role
• > Ensuring all staff are aware of first aid procedures
• Ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed and appropriate measures are put in place
• Undertaking, or ensuring that managers undertake, risk assessments, as appropriate, and that appropriate measures are put in place
• Ensuring that adequate space is available for catering to the medical needs of pupils
• Reporting specified incidents to the HSE when necessary

Staff

School staff are responsible for:

• Ensuring they follow first aid procedures
• Ensuring they know who the first aiders in school are
• Completing accident reports for all incidents they attend to where a first aider is not called
• Informing the Headteacher or their manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

The AED is located in the school Office which QMPS are responsible for

Where the use of the AED is required, individuals will follow the step-by-step instructions displayed on the device.

Staff are instructed on the use of AED’s within first aid training

Use of the AED will be promoted to pupils during PSHE lessons

Emergency procedures

If an accident, illness or injury occurs, the member of staff in charge will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate course of action, which may involve calling for an ambulance immediately or calling for a first aider.

If called, a first aider will assess the situation and take charge of first aider administration.

If the first aider does not consider that they can adequately deal with the presenting condition by the administration of first aid, then they will arrange for the injured person to access appropriate medical treatment without delay.

Where an initial assessment by the first aider indicates a moderate to serious injury has been sustained, one or more of the following actions will be taken:

Administer emergency help and first aid to all injured persons. The purpose of this is to keep the victim(s) alive and, if possible, comfortable, before professional medical help can be called. In some situations, immediate action can prevent the accident from becoming increasingly serious, or from involving more victims.

• Call an ambulance or a doctor, if this is appropriate – after receiving a parent’s clear instruction, take the victim(s) to a doctor or to a hospital. Moving the victim(s) to medical help is only advisable if the person doing the moving has sufficient knowledge and skill to move the victim(s) without making the injury worse.
• Ensure that no further injury can result from the accident, either by making the scene of the accident safe, or (if they are fit to be moved) by removing injured persons from the scene.
• See to any pupils who may have witnessed the accident or its aftermath and who may be worried, or traumatised, despite not being directly involved. They will need to be escorted from the scene of the accident and comforted. Younger or more vulnerable pupils may need parental support to be called immediately.
  Once the above action has been taken, the incident will be reported promptly to:
  • The Headteacher
  • The victim(s)’s parents.

First aid procedures

In-school procedures

In the event of an accident resulting in injury:

• The closest member of staff present will assess the seriousness of the injury and seek the assistance of a qualified first aider, if appropriate, who will provide the required first aid treatment
• The first aider, if called, will assess the injury and decide if further assistance is needed from a colleague or the emergency services. They will remain on scene until help arrives
• The first aider will also decide whether the injured person should be moved or placed in a recovery position
• If the first aider judges that a pupil is too unwell to remain in school, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child. Upon their arrival, the first aider will recommend next steps to the parents. At this point the Head teacher or a member of the Senior Leadership team must authorise the leaving from school.
• If emergency services are called, the School Business manager or the Head will contact parents immediately
• The relevant member of staff will complete an accident report form on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practical after an incident resulting in an injury

Off-site procedures

When taking pupils off the school premises, staff will ensure they always have the following:

• A portable first aid kit
• Information about the specific medical needs of pupils
• Parents’ contact details

Risk assessments will be completed by an adult from the class priorto any educational visit that necessitates taking pupils off school premises.

There will always be at least one first aider with a current paediatric first aid certificate on school trips and visits, as required by the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Record-keeping and reporting

If the injury is a bumped head then a message is sent home to parents with a bumped head information leaflet.

Teachers are informed of any small injury or head bump .

First aid and accident record book

• A slip will be completed by the relevant member of staff on the same day or as soon as possible after an incident resulting in an injury
• As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident
• A log book entry must also be filled in which is kept in the School office
• If the accident is deemed more serious then Karen Brixey must be informed and a full accident form completed
• Records held in the first aid and accident book will be retained by the school for a minimum of 3 years, in accordance with regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, and then securely disposed of

Reporting to the HSE

The School Business Manager will keep a record of any accident which results in a reportable injury, disease, or dangerous occurrence as defined in the RIDDOR 2013 legislation (regulations 4, 5, 6 and 7).

The School Business Manager/Headteacher will report these to the Health and Safety Executive as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 10 days of the incident.

Reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences include:

• Death
• Specified injuries, which are :
  • Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes
  • Amputations
  • Any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight
  • Any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs
  • Serious burns (including scalding)
  • Any scalding requiring hospital treatment
  • Any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
  • Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia or heat induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours
• Injuries where an employee is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not including the day of the incident)
• Where an accident leads to someone being taken to hospital
• Near-miss events that do not result in an injury, but could have done. Examples of near-miss events relevant to schools include, but are not limited to:
  • The collapse or failure of load – bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment
  • The accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause severe human illness
  • The accidental release or escape of any substance that may cause a serious injury or damage to health
  • An electrical short circuit or overload causing a fire or explosion

Information on how to make a RIDDOR report is available here:

How to make a RIDDOR report, HSE

Reporting to Ofsted and child protection agencies

The Headteacher will notify Ofsted of any serious accident, illness or injury to, or death of, a pupil while in the school’s care. This will happen as soon as is reasonably practicable, and no later than 14 days after the incident.

The Headteacher will also notify local child protection agencies of any serious accident or injury to, or the death of, a pupil while in the school’s care.

Reporting to parents

In the event of incident or injury to a pupil, at least one of the pupil’s parents will be informed as soon as practicable.

Parents will be informed in writing of any injury to the head, whether minor or major, and be given guidance on the action to take if symptoms develop.

In the event of a serious injury or an incident requiring emergency medical treatment, the pupil’s class teacher will telephone the pupil’s parents as soon as possible.

A list of emergency contacts will be kept at the school office.

Training

All school staff are able to undertake basic first aid training and must have completed a training course, and must hold a valid certificate of competence to show this. The school will keep a register of all trained first aiders, what training they have received and when this is valid until.

At all times, at least 1 staff member will have a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate which meets the requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework and is updated at least every 3 years.

Storage of medication

Medicines will always be stored securely and appropriately in accordance with individual product instructions, save where individual pupils have been given responsibility for keeping such equipment with them.

All medicines will be stored in the original contained in which they were dispensed, together with the prescriber’s instructions for administration, and properly labelled, showing the name of the patient, the date of prescription and the date of expiry of the medicine.

All medicines will be returned to the parent for safe disposal when they are no longer required or have expired.

An emergency supply of medication will be available for pupils with medical conditions that require regular medication or potentially lifesaving equipment, e.g. an EpiPen.

Parents will advise the school when a child has a chronic medical condition or severe allergy so that an IHP can be implemented and staff can be trained to deal with any emergency in an appropriate way. Examples of this include epilepsy, diabetes and anaphylaxis. A disclaimer will be signed by the parents in this regard.

Pupils are not permitted to let their family members or friends use any school-owned equipment which contains personal data.

Any breach of confidentiality will be dealt with in accordance with the school’s Data Breach Prevention Management Plan.

Any intentional breach of confidentiality will be dealt with in accordance with the school’s E-safety Policy or the Staff Code of Conduct.

Illnesses

When a pupil becomes ill during the school day, the parents will be contacted and asked to pick their child up as soon as possible.

A quiet area will be set aside for withdrawal and for pupils to rest while they wait for their parents to pick them up. Pupils will be monitored during this time.

Allergens

Where a pupil has an allergy, this will be addressed via the child’s Individual health care plan.

Consent

Parents will be asked to complete and sign a medical consent form when their child is admitted to the school, which includes emergency numbers, alongside details of allergies and chronic conditions – these forms will be updated at the start of each school year.

Staff do not act ‘in loco parentis’ in making medical decisions as this has no basis in law – staff will always aim to act and respond to accidents and illnesses based on what is reasonable under the circumstances and will always act in good faith while having the best interests of the pupil in mind – guidelines will be issued to staff in this regard.

Monitoring and review

This policy is reviewed annually by the governing board, and any changes communicated to all members of staff.

Staff will be required to familiarise themselves with this policy as part of their induction programme. Staff will be informed of the arrangements that have been made in connection with the provision of first aid, including the location of equipment, facilities and personnel.