First Aid Policy

Introduction    

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide trained persons, equipment etc, to deal with First Aid emergencies and ill health occurring at work. This policy outlines Co-op Academy Priesthorpe’s responsibility to provide adequate and appropriate First Aid to pupils, staff, parents and visitors and the procedures in place to meet that responsibility. This document should be read in conjunction with the Health and Safety Policy and Medical Treatment Policy  

The Academy recognises that First Aid can save lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones. This document has been prepared to provide guidance on the policy and procedures for dealing with First Aid at Co-op Academy Priesthorpe. The requirements for the statutory provision of First Aid have been taken fully into account to ensure adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and qualified First Aid personnel are provided.  Failure to implement the procedures contained in this document could result in a criminal offence as well as disciplinary action being taken by the Academy. This policy is informed by the Department for Education’s Guidance on First Aid for Schools and is reviewed every two years.  

Aims   

• To identify the First Aid needs of the Academy in line with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and 1999.  
• To ensure that First Aid provision is available at all times while people are on Academy premises, and also off the premises whilst on Academy visits.  

Objectives  

• To appoint the appropriate number of suitably trained people as Appointed Persons and First Aiders to meet the needs of the Academy.  
• To provide relevant training and ensure monitoring of training needs  
• To provide sufficient and appropriate resources and facilities  
• To inform staff and parents of the Academy’s First Aid arrangements  
• To keep accident records and to report to the HSE as required under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.  

Personnel   

The Principal    

The Principal is responsible for the Health and Safety of all employees and anyone else on the premises. This includes the teachers, support staff, students and visitors (including contractors).  

They must ensure that a risk assessment of the Academy is undertaken regularly and that the appointments, training and resources for first aid arrangements are appropriate and in place.  

They should ensure that the insurance arrangements provide full cover for claims arising from actions of staff acting within the scope of their employ.  

The Principal is responsible for putting the policy into practice and for developing detailed procedures.  

The Principal should ensure that the policy and information on the Academy’s arrangements for First Aid are made available to parents.  

All teachers and support staff are expected to do all they can to secure the welfare of students.    

First Aiders   

Definitions   

A First Aider is a person who has attended, successfully completed and has a valid certificate for the three day ‘First Aid at Work’ training course approved by the HSE. First Aid is included in the job description for a number of designated posts in school; these include pastoral and admin staff.  

First Aid means the following:  

• Cases where a person will need help from a medical practitioner or nurse,    
• Treatment for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of injury and illness until such help is obtained,    
• Treatment of minor injuries which would otherwise receive no treatment or do not need treatment by a medical practitioner or nurse.   

Identification of Suitable Employees    

In selecting First-Aiders, the Principal should consider the person’s:  

• Reliability and communication skills  
• Aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills  
• Ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures  
• Normal duties. A First Aider must be able to leave to go immediately to an emergency  

The Principal must ensure candidates are fully briefed on the role and requirements of being a First Aider. They must understand the health risks associated with rendering First Aid and be prepared to receive appropriate health and immunisation advice.    

Role and Responsibilities of First Aiders    

The First Aider’s and Appointed Person’s role includes:  

• Takes charge when someone is injured or becomes ill;  
• Looks after the First Aid equipment e.g. restocking the First Aid container;  
• Ensures that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when appropriate;  
• The administration of First Aid, up to but not exceeding the level of their training;  
• Ensuring that any incident and treatment given is recorded in a suitable local register;  
• Reporting immediately to the Principal and the designated health and safety officer, by telephone, all incidents requiring the attendance of a student, member of staff or any person at hospital;  
• Ensuring that all spillages of body fluids are cleared up promptly;  
• Maintaining stocks in First Aid kit/box (see appendix B) and;  
• Ensuring, in liaison with management, that appropriate documentation is completed and that reportable accidents are reported to the designated health and safety officer as soon as possible after dealing with the immediate effects.  

The First Aider’s responsibilities include:   

• Attending an initial approved training course approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE);  
• Ensuring their own recommended immunisations/injections are up to date and;  
• Reporting any illness or injuries (to the Health and Safety Officer and Principal) which would preclude their abilities to administer First Aid, in order for the Academy to arrange alternative cover;  
• First Aiders also have a responsibility to attend a three yearly refresher training course. (They should attend this course before the expiry of their previous accreditation or they will have to complete the initial training course again).  

First Aid should be provided where a person will need further medical treatment until such help arrives, and for the treatment of minor injuries. It should be noted that the treatment of minor illnesses, by the administration of tablets or medicines, falls outside the definition of First Aid. (See Medical Treatment Policy)  

The role of the First Aider is to provide care after an accident or injury including preserving life, minimising further damage and making the patient as comfortable as possible until professional medical or nursing help is available.    

The role of a member of staff discovering a serious injury or illness is to contact the Front Office and, when necessary, take charge until qualified assistance is available.  

The Front Office will then contact a First Aid qualified person and may also contact the emergency services.  If the emergency services are contacted the designated Health and Safety Officer must be informed.  

The First Aider will decide on whether or not the ill or injured party should move, be moved, or remain undisturbed, and may have to take other appropriate action, depending on the assessment of the situation.    

In the case of a serious incident, available staff should also seek to ensure the safety and welfare of other pupils in the area.  

Indemnity and Insurance   

Where an employee acting in the course of their employment administers First Aid assistance to another employee or other person in the charge of the Academy, such as a student, they will be indemnified by the liability insurance for a claim of negligence relating to injury or loss caused by their actions, provided that:  

• They are an Academy officially designated First Aider with a current valid First Aid at Work Certificate and have attended relevant refresher training;  
• The relevant protective equipment (PPE) is used;  
• The First Aider is adhering to protocols and acting within the limitations of their training and the First Aider is acting in good faith.  

 Use of the ‘Epi Pen’  

Members of staff who have been trained in the use of the ‘Epi Pen’ whether by a parent, user or medical staff, will also be covered provided that:  

• The member of staff is adhering to protocols and acting within the limitations of their training and;    
• That the member of staff is acting in good faith.  

Procedures  

Risk assessment   

Reviews are required to be carried out at least annually by the designated Health and Safety Officer, and when circumstances alter, at the request of the Principal. Recommendations on measures needed to prevent or control identified risks are forwarded to the Principal.  

Re-assessment of First-Aid provision   

As part of the Academy’s annual monitoring and evaluation cycle:  

• The Principal reviews the Academy’s First Aid needs following any changes to staff,  

building/site, activities, off-site facilities, etc.;  

• The designated Health and Safety Officer monitors the number of trained First Aiders, alerts them to the need for refresher courses and organises their training sessions;  
• The designated Health and Safety Officer also monitors the emergency first-aid training received by other staff and organises appropriate training;  
• The designated First Aider checks the contents of the First-Aid boxes termly/when items have been used they must be replaced as soon as possible.  

Providing information    

The Principal will inform all staff (including those with reading and language difficulties) of the First Aid arrangements, including the location of equipment, facilities and first-aid personnel, and the procedures for monitoring and reviewing the Academy's First Aid needs.  

The Health and Safety Officer:    

• Provides information packs for new staff as part of their induction programme;  
• Gives all staff information on the location of equipment, facilities and first-aid personnel.  

Provision   

How many First Aid personnel are required?  

The Principal will consider the findings of the risk assessment in deciding on the number of First Aid personnel required.  Academies are low risk environments, but the Principal will consider the needs of specific times, places and activities in deciding on their provision.  

In particular, they should consider:  

• Off-site PE;  
• Academy trips;  
• Science labs;  
• DT/Art rooms;  
• Adequate provision in case of absence, including trips;  
• Out-of-hours provision e.g. clubs, events.  

Arrangements should be made to ensure that the required level of First Aid cover is available at all times when people are on Academy premises.  

First Aiders  

The recommended number of certified First-Aiders is one per 100 students/staff.  

Qualifications and Training   

First Aiders will hold a valid certificate of competence, issued by an organisation approved by the HSE.  

Specialist training in First Aid for children should be arranged in a three-year cycle.  

First Aid materials, equipment, and facilities   

The Principal must ensure that the appropriate number of first aid containers according to the risk assessment of the site, are available.  See HSE guidelines on recommended and mandatory contents.  

• All First Aid containers must be marked with a white cross on a green background;  
• Each Academy bus must carry a first aid container;  
• First Aid containers must accompany PE teachers off-site;  

First Aid containers should be kept near to hand washing facilities and can be found in the following areas:  

• Science prep room;  
• Student reception;                                    
• Food Technology;  
• Technology;                                                                          
• PE Department;  
• Library    
• Medical room  

First Aid Containers    

A schedule showing the locations of First Aid containers will be made available. The designated First Aider will check all containers each month. Any person who uses an item from a First Aid container should replace as soon as possible.  

Items will be discarded safely after the expiry date has passed.    

Responsibility for checking and restocking the first aid containers:  

• In the Academy, the designated first aiders have their own container and should replenish as soon as possible when stock is used and will also check for out of date stock.  •         For off-site PE, a named member of the PE department  
• On minibus, Health & Safety Officer.  

Control of Infection   

Many blood-borne micro-organisms have the capacity to infect a First Aider should blood from an already infected casualty enter an open wound or sore on the person of the First Aider, for example Hepatitis.    

As it is impossible to be sure of who is, or is not, infected with these viruses the following precautions should be taken by first aiders:  

• Treat all casualties as if they are carriers of a virus;  
• Always cover open wounds on your own hands with a waterproof adhesive dressing;  
• Where practical, a pair of disposable gloves (latex or nitrile) should be worn when dealing with bleeding or when cleaning up body fluids or excreta;  
• All used gloves, waste dressings and other contaminated waste should be placed in a plastic bag for disposal (see later);  
• Any blood splashes on the skin should be washed off with soap and water;  
• If a cut or puncture wound by a needle is sustained, let the wound bleed, squeeze it gently but do not suck it. Wash the area in cold running water and apply a sterile dressing. Report the incident and seek medical advice immediately;  
• Never re-use disposable equipment or use to treat more than one casualty.  

Dealing with Blood and Body Fluid Spills   

Spillages of blood, vomit, urine and excreta should be cleaned up promptly. The following general actions must be taken by the person dealing with the spill:  

• Clear the immediate area of people. Hazard signs and cordoning may be necessary, according to the circumstances;  
• Disposable personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves (latex or nitrile) or equivalent and a disposable plastic apron must be worn;  
• Any spilt blood or other body fluids should be cleaned up, either with disposable absorbent paper towels or with an appropriate sanitizing product.  

Injuries and accidents that occur during non-contact and break times should be dealt with in a similar way by the Duty First Aider.  

No student should be left unattended in the Medical Room.    

In more serious cases, where hospital attention is deemed necessary an ambulance will be called and the parent/carer contacted by Student/ Main Reception:   

• In the absence of a parent/carer, a member of staff must accompany the student to the hospital and remain there until the parent/carer arrives;  
• If a parent/carer cannot be contacted, the Academy will act in loco parentis and give permission for any emergency treatment.  

Procedures for First Aid Staff   

First Aid should only be administered in response to an immediate and serious medical problem.  

First Aid staff are not allowed to administer any medication or cream without parental consent.    

No treatment or procedure should be attempted for which formal training has not been undertaken.   All head injuries must be reported and referred on to the nearest casualty department.  Parents of students who have received first aid must be advised at the earliest opportunity of the incident, the injury and the action taken.    

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review   

The Academy Governing Council will review this policy every two years and assess its implementation and effectiveness.  The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the Academy.  

Appendix 1  

FIRST AID INFORMATION  

The following members of Co-op Academy Priesthorpe staff hold HSE approved First Aid at Work Certificates and can be used in an emergency.  

If an ambulance is needed dial 999  

Statutory Training  

First Aid at Work  

This is the principal First Aid course, which covers a wide range of situations from low to high risk. On successfully undertaking training and passing a written and practical assessment, the person will be issued with a First Aid at Work Certificate valid for three years. This qualification is renewable within the valid time of the certificate. Once the certificate date has expired the person will need to attend the full First Aid at Work course.    

First Aid at Work Refresher  

This training re-qualifies holders of a First Aid at Work Certificate providing they pass their written and practical assessment. Those who wish to renew their certificate must do so before the three-year expiry date, ideally 2 years 10 months. This course takes place over two days (12 hours tuition).    

Statutory Training  

Refresher Training (update in First Aid skills)  

This is additional training to ensure that practical skills are maintained and is not an alternative to statutory training. This training should be carried out annually by all designated First Aiders and Appointed Persons. This course takes place over 4 hours.  

First Aid Equipment  

A minimum of one First Aid box of appropriate size should be provided for each establishment and/or building and any Academy vehicle. Passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) and minibuses must carry First Aid kits that comply with PCV and Minibus Regulations. Each First Aider should have their own First Aid kit for rapid access in an emergency situation.  

All First Aid kits/boxes should be identified by a white cross on a green background and contain the following minimum items:  

• a leaflet on general first aid  
• medium sterile dressings (12cm x 12cm)  
• large sterile dressings (18cm x 18cm)  
• assorted plasters (relevant for the work area)  
• triangular bandage (90cm x 127cm)  
• safety pins (assorted)  
• sterile eye pads  
• disposable gloves  

Other useful items you may wish to include could be:  

• saline cleansing wipes  
• roll of adhesive tape  
• sterile adhesive dressing/s  
• resuscitation face shield with valve  

Quantities should be decided upon in the light of risk assessment, considering the number of staff and students.  

There must be no medication of any kind, for example aspirin, paracetamol, antiseptic creams, etc within the First Aid kit/box, and administration of medication in a First Aid situation is not part of the First Aider’s role. The reasoning behind this is:  

• In the case of tablets, you may not know if any medication has previously been taken or, if it has, what dosage and when. This being the case, your ‘prescription’ may adversely affect any further treatment or surgery that may later be required  
• If the wrong cream were used for the wrong injury, or used inappropriately, there may be serious scarring and long term discomfort for the casualty. There may also be the chance of an adverse allergic reaction  

Since First Aid containers are available to anyone who wishes to use them, the possibility of the problems highlighted above occurring is quite high.  

The provision of plasters, contrary to popular belief, is fine. Most people will know if they are allergic to plasters and will ask for alternatives to be used.  

Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite), or one of the available proprietary combined soak and disinfectant products, should be available in the workplace for cleaning up spillages of body fluids, but should not be located with, or in, the First Aid box. Clinical disposal bags should also be provided.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

British Red Cross  

9 Grosvenor Crescent  

London SW1X 7EJ  

Tel: 0171-235 5454  

Child Accident Prevention Trust  

Clerks Court 18-20 Farringdon Lane  

London EC1R 3AU  

Tel: 0171-608 3828  

CLEAPPS School Science Service  

Brunel University  

Uxbridge  

UB8 3PH  

Tel: 01895 251496  

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents  

(ROSPA)  

Edgbaston Park  

353 Bristol Road  

Birmingham B5 7ST  

Tel: 0121-248 2000  

Department of Health  

Wellington House  

133-155 Waterloo Road  

London SE1 8UG  

Tel: 0171-972 2000  

Health and Safety Executive  

HSE First Aid Applications and Monitoring Section  

Quay House  

Quay Street  

Manchester M3 3JB  

Tel: 0161-952 8276  

HSE Infoline  

Tel: 0541 545500 or write to:  

HSE Information Centre  

Broad Lane  

Sheffield S3 7HQ  

Department for Education  

Sanctuary Buildings  

Great Smith Street  

Westminster  

London SW1P 3BT  

Tel: 0171-925 5000  

St John Ambulance  

1 Grosvenor Crescent   London SW1X 7EF    

References:

• “Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs: a good practice guide”, DCSF/Department of Health    
• DCSF Circular 14/96 “Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs in School”  

Approved by Co-op Academy Priesthorpe Academy Governing Council:  28th November 2022

Principal: 30th October 2022 

Review date: 28th November 2023