First Aid Policy

School: Carlow Educate Together NS

First Aid Policy

 

Introduction:

First Aid is immediate care that is given to an injured or suddenly ill person. First aid does not take the place of proper medical care. It consists only of providing temporary assistance until competent medical care, if needed, is obtained or until the chance for recovery without medical care is ensured.

 (“First Aid, CPR and AED; Emergency Care and Safety Insititute, 2010)

 

Rationale:

The formulation of this policy enables our school to effectively:

 

• ensure the physical safety and well being of all staff and pupils

• provide for the immediate needs and requirements of students who have sustained either a serious or a minor injury
• ensure that adequate resources and arrangements are in place to deal with injuries/accidents as they arise
• ensure lines of communication with parents/guardians are in place if required
• activate a known plan of action with which all staff are familiar
• comply with all legislation relating to safety and welfare at work

 

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

The overall responsibility for the day to day management of school supervision/routines rests with the Principal.  The class teacher is responsible for classroom supervision and teachers on yard duty are directly responsible for the supervision of pupils at break time.  The school’s Health and Safety Officer is Clare Coogan, appointed by the Board of Management.  There are a number of staff with First Aid qualifications and these names are listed on the staffroom noticeboard.  

 

 

School Ethos:

This policy reinforces the elements of the school vision which advocates providing a happy, safe, learning environment for each member of the school community.

 

 

Overview of Procedures:

Safety of pupils and staff is a priority for the Board of Management, and robust measures have been put in place to ensure no children or staff are put at risk;

 

• A comprehensive school Safety Statement has been written and is updated regularly whereby all hazards are identified and remedial measures are outlined
• The school is insured under ODON Insurances and a 24 hour personal accident policy is in place for all children on their enrollment to the school.
• The Board of Management will keep a list compiled of all staff members who are currently trained in First Aid. The Board of Management will facilitate further First Aid training of staff members as deemed necessary on an ongoing basis.
• Each classroom teacher regularly instructs his/her class on issues relating to safety in the class/yard.  Dangerous practices such as throwing stones, engaging in “horseplay”, fighting etc. are subject to sanctions according to the behaviour policy.
• Procedures are in place in the event of accidents
• There is at least one teacher on yard duty at any one time
• The First Aid Procedure is based on collective teacher input.  The teacher on yard duty is automatically assisted by others in the case of a serious injury.
• All injuries are recorded on the school’s Management Information System, Aladdin. Injuries must also be reported to the school office so parents can be contacted and Aladdin further updated.

 

 

Procedures for Administering First Aid

 

Minor Accident/Injury

The injured party is initially looked after by an adult on yard duty.  If deemed necessary, the child will be taken to the staff room.  No medicines are administered but cuts are cleaned with water and bandages/plasters are applied if deemed appropriate by the adult.  Plastic gloves are worn by the adult treating the injury at all times. Some children will require a cool pack to be applied as a calming measure.  The cool pack must always be placed in a polythene bag for hygiene reasons.  These cool packs are stored in the freezer in the staff room. Parents/guardians are notified by telephone. A message will be left on the answering machine in cases where the phone is not answered.

 

More Serious Accidents/Injuries or Very Serious Injuries

A First Aider will be notified who will decide whether it is safe or not to remove the injured party from the scene of the accident to the staffroom.  Parents/guardians are immediately informed, particularly if there is a suspicion of broken bones. The child is kept under intense observation until parents /guardians arrive, with the emphasis on making the child as comfortable and as settled as possible. In the event of a very serious injury, emergency services and parents/guardians or next-of-kin (for staff members) are called.

 

Contact with Blood

Any child or adult that comes in contact with anyone else’s blood, should contact their GP for advice. In the case of a child, it is the school’s duty to inform the parents/guardians.

 

Categories of Injury/Treatment of Injuries

 

Minor Injuries

 

Minor Cuts

Method:

 

• Gloves are used at all times to reduce risk of spread of infection
• Clean around cuts, cleaning from the centre outwards
• A check is carried out to locate small bodies which may be embedded in the wound
• Plaster, gauze or lint may be placed on the wound
• Teacher observation is maintained
• Contact parents

 

Bumps/Bruising

Method:

• The severity of the injury is assessed

• If only a minor injury an ice-pack may be applied

• Contact parents

• If more serious, then follow steps outlined under “Serious Injuries” below.

 

Nosebleed

• Place the child in a seated position with the child’s head tilted slightly forward
• Pinch (or have the child pinch) the soft parts of the nose between the thumb and two fingers with steady pressure for 5-10 minutes
• Contact parents
• Seek medical care if any of the following applies: Bleeding cannot be controlled, You suspect a posterior nosebleed, Bleeding occurs after a blow to the nose and you suspect a broken nose.

 

Serious Injuries

In this category the first step is always to notify a First Aider who will then administer treatment as per the steps below:

 

Sprains:

• In the event of a suspected sprain, the process of rest, ice, compress and elevate (RICE) is implemented
• Parent/s are contacted
• Teacher observation is maintained

 

Head Injuries:

• Any injury to the head is assessed very carefully

 

A:

• If it is a slight bump with

(a) no discolouration

(b) no swelling

(c) no bleeding

• an ice pack is applied and

• the child is kept under observation in the secretary’s office until the first aider examines the head injury again and deems it appropriate for the child to return to normal activities.

• parents are contacted by telephone to notify them of the incident.

 

B:

If it is a more serious injury where there is any of the above (a-c) present, and there is the slightest possibility that the child may be deemed to be suffering from concussion or shock, the same procedures as above are followed AND the teacher will contact the parents and or an ambulance immediately. It is the policy of CETNS to treat ALL head injuries as potentially serious.

While awaiting the arrival of the ambulance, the injured child will be put in the recovery position if necessary, kept warm and as comfortable as possible.

 

Eye Injury

Foreign objects in the eye

• Lift the upper lid over the lower lid and have the child blink a few times
• Hold the eyelid open and gently rinse with running water
• Examine the lower lid by pulling it down gently – if the object is seen, remove it with a moistened sterile gauze or clean cloth
• Examine the underside of the upper lid by grasping the lashes of the upper lid, if the object is seen remove it with a moistened sterile gauze or clean cloth
• If unsuccessful, keep child comfortable and contact parents

Cuts to the eye area

• If the eyeball is cut do not apply pressure on it. If only the eyelid is cut, apply a sterile or clean dressing with gentle pressure

• Have the child keep the uninjured eye closed

• Call for medical help, call parents

Blows to the eye

• Apply an ice or cold pack for about 10 minutes to reduce pain and swelling. Do not apply it directly on the eyeball or apply any pressure on the eye
• Contact parents
• If serious injury seek medical care, particularly if there is pain, double vision or reduced vision

 

Broken Nose

• Call for medical help, call for parents

• If bleeding, provide care as for a nosebleed
• Apply an ice or cold pack to the nose for 10 minutes. Do not try to straighten a crooked nose.

 

Mouth Injuries

Bitten lip or tongue:

• Apply direct pressure with a sterile/clean moistened cloth
• Apply an ice or cold pack
• If the bleeding does not stop seek medical help
• Contact parents

Knocked out tooth:

A tooth can be successfully re-implanted (by a dentist) within 30 minutes

• Contact parents

• Have the child rinse his/her mouth and place a rolled gauze pad in the socket to control bleeding
• Find the tooth and handle it by the crown, not the root. Do not place the tooth in water. Have the child spit into a cup and place the tooth in the spit.
• Advise parents to get the child to the dentist promptly so the tooth can be reimplanted. If more serious injuries exist seek medical care

 

Faints and Shocks

• Lie the casualty down
• Raise the legs above the level of the heart
• Loosen any tight clothing
• Ensure there is fresh air
• Keep crowds away
• Reassure casualty when they recover
• Contact parents

 

Severe Bleeding

• Sit or lie the injured party down
• Put on gloves and press down on wound using a compress/folded cloth
• Lift (if possible) the injured part above the level of the heart
• Put a clean dressing over the wound and secure it firmly with a bandage
• If blood shows through the dressing then place another one over the first and bandage firmly
• Treat for shock
• Contact doctor
• If very serious contact Casualty immediately
• Contact parents

 

Burns/Scalds

• Immediately remove child from danger area
• Cool burnt area with cold running water for at least five minutes
• Remove rings etc. and other tight fitting accessories
• Do not remove objects stuck to skin
• Apply burn gel to the affected area 
• Maintain observation of the child
• Contact parents and if serious, call the doctor

 

Unconsciousness

• Ring for medical help, Ring for parents
• If breathing, place child in recovery position
• If subject is not breathing, CPR is applied, call for defibrillator
• Other children are kept away

 

Stings/Bites

• Remove the stinger, if present, using a straight edged object
• Wash the area thoroughly using soap and water
• Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the affected area
• Observe for signs of infection such as pain, redness or swelling
• Teacher observation of the child’s general well-being is maintained
• Call the doctor if any of the following are observed: wheezing, swelling on the face, difficulty in breathing, tight feeling in the throat, body turning blue

• If case is serious, parent/s are contacted

 

Resources:

A full first aid box is located in the staff room of the school.  A smaller first aid bag is hung at the entrance of the school for quicker access when needed. The contents of such boxes are monitored and replenished when deemed necessary by Samantha Ryan.

 

Reporting and Record Keeping:

Following a fall in yard, if first aid is required, parents will always be notified by telephone. It will be the parents’ decision whether or not to collect the child. 

 

All accidents/injuries are recorded in the Aladdin system under the child’s name.  The report should list the date and time of accident, nature of injuries, a brief description of the circumstance of the accident, procedures followed by staff etc. 

 

Incidents that occur in the yard are recorded in a Yard Incident Book. Teachers on yard duty keep these books with them and they are stored in Siobhán’s office.  In the case of any injury that doesn’t take place on yard requiring medical treatment, the HSA will be informed using their reporting system.

 

Parental Consent

On enrollment parents are asked to agree with all the policies of the school as they currently exist. This ensures thereby that the parent has given consent for their child to receive first aid as per this policy. If a parent has not signed that they agree to abide by the policies of the school then their child is not enrolled.

 

Allergies/Medical Conditions:

It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to inform the school of any/all medical conditions or allergies their child may have at any point during the their time in the school. Relevant medical information on all pupils is obtained at time of enrolment.  This section asks parents to list allergies and other medical conditions their child may have.

A staff member can then access each child’s information file online (by entering the name of the child into the Aladdin system) to obtain necessary medical information in the event of an accident or emergency. 

The onus is on the parents to keep the school informed of any changes there may be to their child’s allergies/medical conditions as they arise, all throughout the time the child is enrolled in and attending CETNS.

 

 

Evaluation:

The success of this policy is measured from set criteria;

• Maintaining a relatively accident free school environment
• Positive feedback from staff, parents, children
• Continual yard observation of behaviour by all staff engaged in supervision duties
• Monitoring and evaluation at staff meetings
• All staff members are briefed on the policy
• All new staff members are briefed on the policy as they commence employment in the school; this includes those on work placement

Ratification:

This revised policy was reviewed and ratified by the Board of Management in September 2015.