FIRST AID & MEDICATION POLICY (INCLUDES ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINE)

Transcription

1 Dove Bank Primary School FIRST AID & MEDICATION POLICY (INCLUDES ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINE) This policy was approved by the Governing Body of Dove Bank Primary School at their meeting on... Signed... Chair of Governors

2 INTRODUCTION The safety and wellbeing of all children at Dove Bank Primary School is of the highest importance to all staff. This policy explains the practices in place to address the health needs of the children as they relate to accidents and medical conditions. FIRST-AIDERS First-aid training is carried out in line with current HSE and LA recommendations and by accredited training organisations to a recognized standard. The vast majority of school staff (teaching, support staff and midday supervisors) will undertake training on a one day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) with Paediatric Element course in order to qualify as a First-Aider / Appointed Person. Full training will take place every three years. The school has one Certificated First-Aider (FAW) - Ms Earp who has attended a 16 hour HSE approved First Aid course as part of her Forest School s Training. A list of currently-qualified personnel is placed on the notice board by the school office. An e-version of the list is held on the Headteacher s computer system with details of qualifying and renewal dates. Whole school first-aid training will be held at appropriate intervals with the aim of keeping as many school staff current and effective. Key personnel who take responsible for dealing with any serious first aid matters and can be called upon to offer advice whenever required will include the Headteacher, a member of the Leadership Team, the member of support staff responsible for co-ordinating First Aid (Mrs Shaw) and the school s Forest School Leader, Eve Earp. Additional training will be undertaken by staff with designated responsibilities relating to individual pupils (e.g. managing diabetic pupils, using an epi-pen). All qualified first aiders will administer to small cuts and bruises that are the normal occurrence in a school day. Lunchtime Supervisors have also undertaken emergency first aid training and are expected to deal with minor playground injuries as part of their duties. FIRST AID EQUIPMENT The foyer (KS2) or Class 1 (KS1) is the main area for the administration of first aid. The disabled toilet may also be of use in some circumstances. In the case of a child waiting for an ambulance or one in need of more serious medical attention, the Community Room will be used to provide a safe, quiet and comfortable place to keep the casualty. Clearly labelled First-Aid kits are kept strategically placed nearest to areas of greatest risk. First Aid equipment for general use is kept in the Staff Room and in Class 1. First Aid packs containing gloves, plasters and wipes are kept in each classroom, and smaller, portable first aid packs are kept centrally in the staffroom for use by the lunchtime supervisors and on school trips. There is a separate First-Aid bag for Forest School activities, which is the responsibility of Ms Earp. First Aid boxes comply with the HSE minimum list. The content and currency of first aid equipment is regularly monitored, and if necessary replenished, by the member of the school support staff appointed as coordinating First Aid (Mrs Shaw).

3 FIRST AID MATERIALS Each box will contain: ITEM QUANTITIES Guidance Card 1 Individually wrapped sterile adhesive 20 dressing Sterile eye pads and attachments 2 Triangular Bandages 4 Safety Pins 6 Medium size sterile un-medicated dressings 6 Large sterile un-medicated dressings 2 One pair of disposable gloves 1 Other items: A supply of disposable latex gloves Disposable yellow plastic bags for the disposal of used dressing, swabs, disposable gloves etc. Protective Resuscitation Aid (Vent Aid) FIRST AID PROCEDURES Minor injuries sustained during break or lunchtime are dealt with by staff and midday supervisors either on the playground or else by teaching staff in the foyer. Staff will summon help from the staff room in cases of more serious injury using the Red Triangle system. There is always the Headteacher or a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) available at lunchtime, or after-school, in case of an emergency. Minor injuries can be dealt with in school. Any doubt about whether an injury needs further attention must be referred to the Headteacher or a member of the SLT. Obviously, serious injury will need to be dealt with as soon as possible and it is the Headteacher s/an SLT decision to call for an ambulance. If the Headteacher or an SLT member is not immediately available, any member of staff can phone for an ambulance (and the sooner the better). It is always better to err on the side of caution. If there is any doubt, call an ambulance. FIRST-AID TREATMENT The aim of first-aid treatment is to sort out minor injuries in such a way that a pupil can return to normal school activities OR to stabilise a serious injury until expert medical help becomes available. Treatment will be administered as per the training received. For example: Procedure to adopt when dealing with bodily fluids Isolate the area. Always use disposable gloves. NEVER touch body fluids with your bare hands. In the case of blood-loss, give the pupil a cotton pad to hold against themselves whilst you put on disposable gloves. Clean the spillage area with the appropriate materials available from the Site Manager s Room. Use bucket and mop with red mark from the SM s office (inform SM if used by leaving a note). Double-bag all materials used and dispose of in outside dustbin.

4 Always wash hands with anti-bacterial pump soap after taking disposable gloves off. Cleaning cuts/grazes Other Wear disposable gloves. Clean cuts using running water or water from a spray bottle and/ or alcohol wipes and if needed. Cover with a waterproof dressing (plasters are available for pupils with no plaster allergy. Padded dressings are also available). Sprains can be bandaged and slings applied if a fracture is suspected. Rinse eyes with cold water or sterile saline solution. Ice packs are kept in the staffroom fridge and can be used to reduce the swelling for bumps and suspected strains and sprains; a cold compress will be used for head injuries. Ice pack holders will always be used to prevent direct contact between ice packs and skin. For bites or scratches, wash the wound in clean running water and then cover with a waterproof dressing. CLINICAL WASTE DISPOSAL All medical waste is disposed of in the designated clinical waste disposal units in the disabled toilet and the Foundation Classroom. Soiled first aid material should be first wrapped in a plastic bag and then placed in a standard black bag lining the bin. Bins are emptied daily and the waste they contain disposed of appropriately and collected from the school by the LA collection services. REPORTING PROCEDURES AND KEEPING A RECORD OF FIRST-AID TREATMENT Any injury for which first-aid is administered MUST be recorded, however minor. All appropriate record- keeping logs and documentation are kept with the staffroom first-aid kits and in Class 1. Statutory documentation relating to serious injury is kept in the School Office. All entries in first-aid logs and associated documents must be in pen and must adequately describe the injury and treatment, and be signed and dated. The log will be monitored by the Headteacher. All head bumps, however minor must be recorded in the accident log with the injury marked with a X on a picture of a head. Parents must be informed of the situation by telephone and by head bump letter. The pupil will be given a head bump sticker to wear on their jumper. A copy of the letter is kept in the accident book. It is vital that first-aiders pass on to class teacher information about head injuries happening during breaktime and lunchtime so that the pupil can be kept under observation for delayed and untoward symptoms. This is also vital when handing on pupils to clubs after school. Any pupil injured at break or lunch will take an I ve been injured card to their teacher to inform them that they have received first aid treatment. Parents of children receiving an injury whilst at school are always contacted as a matter of courtesy. In more serious cases, the pupil should not be moved until checked by a First Aider. Parents will be contacted immediately and advised of the need to take the child to a doctor/hospital. In emergencies, an ambulance will be called and the parent informed immediately. In such cases the school s order of care is entrusted to the NHS ambulance personnel. School staff cannot give permission for casualty treatment. Accidents needing hospital treatment will require the completion of a serious injury form which should be forwarded to the Health and Safety department of the Local Authority. This is the responsibility of the Headteacher or the Office Manager. This may need to be done retrospectively if the pupil is taken to hospital by parents after the end of the school day.

5 Any injury which is likely to result in a pupil being absent from school for three or more days should be immediately reported to Health and Safety under RIDDOR Regulations as per the Health and Safety Act. OFF-SITE VISITS All trip planning involves consideration of arrangements for medical issues and first aid. The school trip pro forma signed off by the Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) makes explicit reference to this aspect of organisation and the trip will not be signed off until all reasonable eventualities are covered. All teachers taking children out of school for a trip or residential visit are equipped with a first-aid pack and will carry any medication needed for individual children. The first-aid equipment must be checked against the contents list before departure. Medical equipment (such as inhalers, nebulisers and Epipens) must be checked as functioning and in date. This is the responsibility of the trip leader. Minor injuries can be dealt with in the usual way. Records must be completed at the time in the portable log in the first-aid kits. Details must be transferred to central log within a reasonable time after the return of the trip. The lead teacher will inform school directly and immediately of any serious injury incurred by anyone on the trip. School will contact parents/next of kin, as appropriate. All teachers on or leading trips should be equipped with a charged mobile phone in to which the school number (and those of SLT) are entered. Residential trips are required to take with them the emergency contact details of all participants, including adults. Procedures to be followed in the case of serious injury are specified in detail in the Major Incident Policy. ONGOING MEDICAL CONDITIONS NEEDING MEDICATION Medical information about a child is gathered through the data collection surveys updated annually. Parents must keep us informed of any new and relevant medical issues as well as keeping us informed of changes to existing conditions. The central data register is held by the school office containing medical information and emergency contact numbers. Emergency phone numbers are also kept in the contact box in the office. Records about those children with particular medical conditions or allergies are also kept in the Headteacher s office and the Staffroom. Additionally, all important medical information is provided for class teachers in the front of the class register. Where necessary, there is a medical emergency placard sealed to the teacher s desk in all classrooms with pictures of any particularly vulnerable pupils for the benefit of Supply Teachers. E.g. Those suffering from heart conditions. A picture and relevant medical details of all children with particular medical conditions and / or allergies are displayed on the staff room notice board to help staff identify and therefore provide the appropriate care for specific children. Food allergies are listed in each relevant child s register so that the teacher is aware. The school cook is notified of all children with food allergies. Where medical needs are complex and ongoing, an Individual Health Care Plan will be put in place. This will help staff identify the necessary safety measures to help support young people with medical needs and ensure that they and others are not put at risk. The plan will be drawn up in consultation with parents and relevant health professionals such as the School Nurse. It will include the following:- precise details of the pupil s condition

6 special requirements i.e. dietary needs, pre-activity precautions precise details of any medication regime any possible side-effect of the medicines what constitutes an emergency requiring urgent medical attention what action to take in an emergency emergency contacts the role of school staff in supporting the medical needs all necessary signed consents THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES School Staff do not administer medicine. Parents/carers (or an adult nominated by the parent) are therefore requested to oversee the intake of medication to their children either by organising the doses to remove the need to give the medicine in school time, or by coming in to school to administer medicine themselves. Epipens will be kept on the top shelf of the first-aid cupboard in clearly labelled and named plastic boxes. Given their vital importance, the balance of risk indicates they should not be kept under lock and key. ASTHMA Parents of asthmatic children must complete a school asthma card ensure that their child is equipped with a labelled inhaler. We also request that school is provided with spare inhaler. Inhalers are stored in the classrooms and the child has access to them at all times. Inhalers should be taken to PE and swimming lessons, sports events and educational visits. Most asthmatic children will be able to administer inhalers themselves. Where they need to be supervised, this will be done by the Headteacher or one of our qualified First Aiders. A list of children in school with asthma is kept on the notice board in the staff room and is updated regularly. We encourage children with asthma to participate in all aspects of the curriculum including PE. The school does all that it can to ensure that the environment is favourable to pupils with asthma. MEDICINES AND RESIDENTIAL VISITS Prior to any residential visit taking place medical forms will be completed by the parents/carer of all pupils. This will allow the school to consider what reasonable adjustments may need to made to enable young people with medical needs to participate fully and safely on visits. Arrangements for taking any necessary medicines will need to be taken into consideration. If staff are concerned about whether they can provide for a pupil s safety, or the safety of others, on a visit, the school will seek parental views and medical advice from the school health service and/or the child s GP, Specialist Nurse or Hospital Consultant. Staff supervising excursions will always be aware of the medical needs and relevant emergency procedures of pupils in their care. Copies of medical forms will be taken on the visit and relevant information also stored in school. Prior to the residential trip medication should be handed to the teacher in charge of the trip by parents/ carers. All administration of medicines on residential visit will be recorded, signed and countersigned on a school pro forma that will be incorporated in to the central medicines administration log on return. Following the visit, the trip leader will hand back any medication directly to the child s parent. EMPLOYEE MEDICINES All staff have a responsibility to ensure that their medicines are kept securely and that pupils will not have access to them e.g. staff-room or locked drawer. F.Shields 1/2014

7 DOVE BANK PRIMARY SCHOOL CARE PLAN NAME OF CHILD: CLASS: PHOTO MEDICAL CONDITION: DESCRIPTION OF SYMPTOMS: ACTION TO BE TAKEN: EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAIL: Parents Home : Work: Mobile: Other contact details e.g. Grandparent: Hospital (if appropriate): Consultant: