First Aid Policy

Policy details

• Date created - 12/10/2023
• Date reviewed - 04/09/2024
• Date approved -12/10/2023
• Next review date - 12/10/2025
• Policy owner - Michelle Khambhaita

Contents

1. Aims        3

2. Legislation and guidance        3

3. Roles and responsibilities        4

4. First aid procedures        5

5. First aid equipment        7

6. Record-keeping and reporting        7

7. Training        9

8. Links with other policies        10

Appendix 1: list of [appointed persons(s) for first aid and/or trained first aiders]        11

Appendix 2: accident report form        12

Appendix 3: first aid training log        13

1. Aims

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

2. Legislation and guidance

This policy is based on the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, advice from the Department for Education (DfE) on first aid in schools and health and safety in schools, guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on incident reporting 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

3. Roles and responsibilities

3.1 Appointed person:

The school’s appointed person is Julie Lovick. They 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 with the support of the other first aiders

Ensuring that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when appropriate

First aiders:

First Aiders are trained and qualified to carry out the role (see section 7) 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 as, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, after an incident (see the template in appendix 2)

Keeping their contact details up to date

Our school’s First Aiders are listed in appendix 1. Their names will also be displayed prominently around the school site.

3.2 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 (see section 6)

3.3 Staff

School staff are responsible for:

Ensuring they follow first aid procedures

Ensuring they know who the first aiders and/or appointed person(s) in school are

Completing accident reports (see appendix 2) for all incidents they attend to where a [first aider/appointed person] is not called

Informing the headteacher or their manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs

4. First aid procedures

4.1 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 the 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/carers will be contacted and asked to collect their child. On their arrival, the first aider will recommend next steps to the parents/carers

If emergency services are called, the Appointed Person will contact parents/carers immediately

The first aider will complete an accident report form on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practicable after an incident resulting in an injury

There will be at least 1 person who has a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate on the premises at all times.

4.2 Off-site procedures

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

•  A mobile phone
•  A portable first aid kit including, at minimum:
• A leaflet giving general advice on first aid
• 6 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
• 1 large sterile unmedicated dressing
• 2 triangular bandages – individually wrapped and preferably sterile
• 2 safety pins
• Individually wrapped moist cleansing wipes
• 2 pairs of disposable gloves
• Information about the specific medical needs of pupils
• Parents/carers’ contact details

When transporting pupils using a minibus or other large vehicle, the school will make sure the vehicle is equipped with a clearly marked first aid box containing, at minimum:

•  10 antiseptic wipes, foil packed
•  1 conforming disposable bandage (not less than 7.5cm wide)
•  2 triangular bandages
•  1 packet of 24 assorted adhesive dressings
•  3 large sterile unmedicated ambulance dressings (not less than 15cm × 20 cm)
•  2 sterile eye pads, with attachments
•  12 assorted safety pins
•  1 pair of rustproof blunt-ended scissors

Risk assessments will be completed by the class teacher/visit leader prior to any educational visit that necessitates taking pupils off school premises.

There will always be at least 1 first aider with a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate on school trips and visits, as required by the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). There will always be at least 1 first aider on school trips and visits which do not involve children in EYFS.

5. First aid equipment

A typical first aid kit in our school will include the following:

A leaflet giving general advice on first aid

20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes)

2 sterile eye pads

2 individually wrapped triangular bandages (preferably sterile)

6 safety pins

6 medium-sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings

2 large sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings

3 pairs of disposable gloves

No medication is kept in first aid kits.

First aid kits are stored in:

Lower ground

Cleaning cupboard - eyewash station

Bottom hall kitchen - First aid box

Ground Floor

Staff toilet in Key stage 1

Staff toilet in nursery

Dining room - first aid cupboard

Top floor

Staffroom - drawers behind door

6. Record-keeping and reporting

6.1 First aid and accident record book

An accident form will be completed by the [first aider/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, including all of the information included in the accident form at appendix 2

For accidents involving pupils, a copy of the accident report form will also be added to the pupil’s educational record by the first aide adding this to Parago where a head injury is present. All other accidents the form will remain in paper format and be stored as part of the schools retention period.

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 once no longer required under the schools retention period.

6.2 Reporting to the HSE

The School Business Manager will keep a record of any accident that 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 will report these to the HSE as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 10 days of the incident – except where indicated below. Fatal and major injuries and dangerous occurrences will be reported without delay (i.e. by telephone) and followed up in writing within 10 days.  

School staff: reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences

These 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) which:

•        Covers more than 10% of the whole body’s total surface area; or

•        Causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs

•        Any scalping 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

•         Work-related injuries that lead to an employee being away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not including the day of the incident). In this case, the School Business Manager will report these to the HSE as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 15 days of the accident

 •        Occupational diseases where a doctor has made a written diagnosis that the disease is linked to occupational exposure. These include:

o        Carpal tunnel syndrome

o        Severe cramp of the hand or forearm

o        Occupational dermatitis, e.g. from exposure to strong acids or alkalis, including domestic bleach

o        Hand-arm vibration syndrome

o        Occupational asthma, e.g from wood dust

o        Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm

o        Any occupational cancer

o        Any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent

 •        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:

o        The collapse or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment

o        The accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause severe human illness

o        The accidental release or escape of any substance that may cause a serious injury or damage to health

o        An electrical short circuit or overload causing a fire or explosion

 •        Pupils and other people who are not at work (e.g. visitors): reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences. These include:

 o        Death of a person that arose from, or was in connection with, a work activity*

 o        An injury that arose from, or was in connection with, a work activity* and where the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to hospital for treatment

•        An accident “arises out of” or is “connected with a work activity” if it was caused by:

 o        A failure in the way a work activity was organised (e.g. inadequate supervision of a field trip)

 o        The way equipment or substances were used (e.g. lifts, machinery, experiments etc); and/or

 o        The condition of the premises (e.g. poorly maintained or slippery floors)

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

http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm

6.3 Notifying parents/carers (early years only)

The first aider will inform parents/carers of any accident or injury sustained by a pupil, and any first aid treatment given, on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable. Parents/carers will also be informed if emergency services are called.

7. Training

All school staff are offered the opportunity to undertake first aid training if they would like to. The school assesses the minimum number of first raiders needed through a needs assessment of the school.

All first aiders 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 (see appendix 3).

The school will arrange for first aiders to retrain before their first aid certificates expire. In cases where a certificate expires, the school will arrange for staff to retake the full first aid course before being reinstated as a first aider.

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

8. Links with other policies

This first aid policy is linked to the:

         Health and safety policy

         Policy on supporting pupils with medical conditions

Appendix 1: list of [appointed persons(s) for first aid and/or trained first aiders]

School First Aiders

Breakfast Club

Amanda Clements

Nursery

Nicola Redman – Nursery Classroom

Key Stage 1

Julie Lovick – Reception Classroom

Amanda Clements – Year 2 Classroom

Emilia Cieloch – Year 2 Classroom

Key Stage 2

Trish Smith – Year 4 Classroom

Mathew Waddington – Year 6 Classroom

Appendix 2: accident report form

Appendix 3: first aid training log

NAME/TYPE OF TRAINING        

E.g. first aid                        

E.g. paediatric first aid                        

E.g. anaphylaxis        

STAFF WHO ATTENDED (INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS OR GROUPS)        

DATE ATTENDED        

DATE FOR TRAINING TO BE RENEWED (WHERE APPLICABLE)