Review: Sept 2017 First Aid & Administration of Medication Policy
Cognita Hastings School Contact Names Early Years Coordinator Head of Primary Head of Secondary Headteacher Cognita Education Executive/ Chair of governance panel Cognita Alex Jones (based in Paseo de la Habana) Helen Ormerod (based in Bendicion de Campos) Steve Needham (based in Azulinas) Kevin Godden (based in Azulinas) John Coleman (Assistant Director of Education; based in Milton Keynes, UK c/o officemanager@cognitaschools.es Cognita Regional Office Address: Plaza Letamendi 1-2, 08007, Barcelona.
KEY FACTS: First Aid is emergency care given to an injured person (in order to minimise injury and future disability) before professional medical care is available. Teachers and other staff are expected to use their best endeavours at all times, particularly in emergencies, to secure the welfare of pupils in the same way that parents might be expected to act towards their children. In general, consequences of taking no action are likely to be more serious than those of trying to assist in an emergency. To implement and maintain an effective management system for the administration of medicines to all pupils in our care in order to ensure that we provide support to individual pupils with medical needs. Applicability This policy applies to all pupils in Cognita Schools Group ( Cognita ) This policy is addressed to all staff and covers the administration by staff of medication to children in the care of the School. This policy has been written to ensure that we promote the good health of all the children in our care. We are responsible for obtaining information about a child s needs for medicines, and for keeping this up-to-date. To this end, we will regularly review medication permission forms to ensure that there are no changes. Our policy applies to each and every medicine that a parent wants us to give. We ensure that the permission we obtain from parents applies from the start of any course of medication and during the entire course of treatment. Written parental consent will always be obtained prior to any course of medication. Parents should keep their child at home if acutely unwell or infectious. Responsibilities The overall responsibility for Health and Safety, which includes First Aid, rests with the Headteacher. The Headteacher is responsible for putting the policy in place, including informing staff and parents. All staff, and those parents with responsibility for children in school, should be aware of available First Aid personnel, facilities and the location of First Aid boxes and information.
First Aid provision is available at all times, including out of school trips, during PE and other times the school facilities are used e.g. Parents Meetings. Adequate First Aid cover will be provided in all school buildings, as well as during break times. If a staff member is alone on a trip or during a PE lesson then they must have access to a telephone in order to summon help. First Aiders must have attended a recognised First Aid course approved by the local authorities and attend refresher courses every 3 years. They will be reliable, have good communication skills, an ability to cope with stress and able to absorb new knowledge. Liaising with Parents We promote on-going communication with parents in order to ensure that the specific medical needs of all pupils in our care are known and met. We expect parents to inform us at admission and registration of any known medical needs. Parents must inform us if their child develops a medical condition which will require either any medication to be taken at school and of any changes to the medication required. We ask parents to make sure that only essential medication is taken at school that is where it would be detrimental to the pupil's health not to administer the medication during the school day. Where possible, medicines should be taken at home, before and after attending school. We will not administer any medication to a pupil without obtaining prior written permission from parents. This requirement will not prevent a child of sufficient understanding and intelligence to understand fully what is proposed, from giving or withholding consent to medical treatment, or from seeking advice or treatment in confidence. It is the parent s responsibility to renew any medication and ensure that it is not out of date. Reporting & Recording Hastings School recognises that: We have a duty to report and record incidents that involve: local legislation requirements the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences all bumps or knocks to the head
Recording and administration of First Aid (Procedure) At Hastings School we make every effort to minimise the risk of accidents but we recognise that accidents may still occur. All accidents to pupils, staff, parents and visitors, no matter how small will be reported to the Headteacher as soon as possible after the accident takes place. The First Aider present will deal with the accident and treat any injuries as required. Once the individuals have been treated, all details regarding the accident will be recorded in the Accident Book by a member of staff. An investigation into the accident should be undertaken immediately or at least on the same day. Judgements should be made as to what can be done to reduce the risk of similar accidents occurring again. Any bumps, bangs or knocks to the head will be recorded and communicated personally to parents. An Accident Book is kept in respective school office areas. Records should be stored for at least three years. All accidents / near misses will be reported in the annual Health & Safety Review at the policy review date or as requested. Recording and administration of medication (Procedure) If a child requires medication during the day parents must complete the permission side of a Medication Record Sheet and hand to the school secretary before the medication can be administered. The medication must be clearly labelled and in the original packaging. It is the parent s responsibility to notify the school if there are any changes to the requirements during the course of medication. The staff member receiving the medication will ensure that all other staff members dealing with that child are aware of the need for this medication. An agreement is reached by the team as to who will be responsible for giving the medication to the child. The person responsible for giving the medication will check the child s medication record before giving the medication and ensure that the child receives the correct dose at the correct time.
If, however, a child suddenly develops a temperature while at school, the appropriate staff member is informed of the situation, the coordinator or school secretary then rings the parent or emergency contact person. Parents or guardians are asked to arrange for the child to be picked up from school. If the parent or emergency contact person cannot be contacted, a staff member will continue to try to reduce the child s temperature using methods such as removing some of the child s clothing, sponging the child with tepid water or with the use of a fan. If the temperature does not go down, the coordinator makes an assessment of the situation and seeks medical advice if necessary. These procedures will in no way delay or prevent staff from seeking medical advice or assistance if they feel it is necessary. Intrusive Medication Asthma inhalers and Epi-Pens and any other medication needed in an emergency will be kept in the child s classroom (but out of reach of pupils). Storage All medication will be stored appropriately, in the original packaging, safely and in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions, away from the children. It will be checked regularly to ensure that it is in date. First Aid cabinets are situated in each school office area; beds are available for temporary use prior to further action (e.g. calling parents to take home their child; calling an ambulance; the child returning to class; etc). The contents of the First Aid cabinets/kits are to be regularly checked and maintained by the designated school secretary....