All BISPP teachers and teacher assistants are required to hold a valid first-aid certificate to be first-aider.
They will:
- Take charge when someone is injured or becomes ill
- Ensure there is an adequate supply of medical materials in first aid kits, and replenishing the contents of these kits
- Ensure 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, if necessary
- Completing an accident report on the same day, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, after an incident
The campus manager
The campus manager 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 that all staff are aware of first aid procedures.
- Ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed and appropriate measures are put in place.
- Ensuring that adequate space is available for catering to the medical needs of pupils
Staff
The school employees 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 upon
- Informing the campus manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs
First aid procedures
In-school procedures
In the event of an accident resulting in injury:
- The closest member of staff present at the time 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 any 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 the following steps which may need to be taken to the parents
- If emergency services are called, the campus manager, or in the case of the campus manager’s absence, the School Administrator team 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 that they always have the following:
- A mobile phone
- A portable first aid kit
- Information about the specific medical needs of pupils
- Access to parents’ contact details
Risk assessments will be completed by the lead member of staff before any educational visit that necessitates taking pupils off school premises.
There will always be at least one first-aider with a current pediatric first aid certificate on school trips and visits as required by BISPP.
First aid equipment
A typical first aid kit in our school will include the following:
- A leaflet with general first aid advice
- Regular and large bandages
- Eye pad bandages
- Triangular bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Safety pins
- Disposable gloves
- Antiseptic wipes
- Plasters of assorted sizes
- Scissors
- Cold compresses
- Burns dressings
No medication is kept in first aid kits.
First aid kits are stored in:
- The main office
- The conservatory
- Teacher office
- Library
- Canteen
Record-keeping and reporting
First aid and accident record book
- A minor accident form is completed if the injury needs only very minor first aid such as a wipe, cold compress, plaster, or an ice pack for a short time.
- As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident.
- A copy of the accident report form will also be added to the pupil’s educational record by the school administrative team.
- 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 scalping requiring hospital treatment
- Any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
- Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space that leads to hypothermia, heat-induced illnesses, or requires resuscitation or admittance to a 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 possibly could have. 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 an explosion
Notifying parents
The class teacher or teaching assistant will inform parents of any accident or injury sustained by a pupil/student, including any first aid treatment which was given; the parents will be informed on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.
Training
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, including the training they have received and when this is valid up to.
The staff will be encouraged to renew their first aid training when it is no longer valid.
At all times, at least one member of staff will have a current pediatric first aid (PFA) certificate which meets the requirements set out by BISPP.
