FIRST AID IN SCHOOLS – from asthma to medical rooms.

From allergies to restocking the first aid kit, medical rooms to recording on-site accidents – would you know how to respond to medical emergencies at school?

Read on for our expert tips.

Specific health conditions

It is vital that school staff are competent in advising on the first aid elements pertinent to individual health care plans for specific conditions.

Specialist first aid training companies may be able to assist with specific staff training on asthma, anaphylaxis and seizure management.

It is important that all staff, including lunchtime supervisors are trained and confident they could recognise and give immediate care to someone who is choking, or experiencing an anaphylactic reaction.

Asthma

Emergency Asthma inhalers are now available in schools and all appropriate staff should be able to recognise if someone is experiencing an asthma attack and be confident calmly managing the situation, referring as necessary.

Allergic reactions

Since 1st October 2017 the same applies to emergency adrenaline auto injectors. Schools can obtain emergency adrenaline autoinjectors from a pharmacist for emergency use on a child known to have a history of anaphylaxis and has been prescribed their own adrenaline autoinjector.

Train all staff in the immediate recognition and treatment of acute allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock.

School risk assessment

It is the head teacher (or employer’s) responsibility to ensure all staff are informed of first aid arrangements, the names and locations of first aiders and first aid equipment.

When undertaking risk assessments and first aid needs, schools should consider the size and location of the school and if on split sites or split levels.

If the school has more than one entrance,  give clear instructions to emergency services about where to enter or to whom they should report.

Further factors schools should consider

• are there any specific hazards or risks on the site? This could be hazardous substances, dangerous tools or machinery. Consider also temporary hazards, such as building or maintenance work, and put suitable short-term measures in place.
• are there staff or pupils with special health needs or disabilities?
• what age range does the school cater for? Different first-aid procedures may apply to pupils in primary and secondary schools. For example, Asthma UK offers specific advice and support for teenagers learning to manage their own care.

Lunch times and school trips

Schools should base their provision of first aiders on the results of their risk assessment plus adequate provision for lunchtimes, breaks, sickness and annual leave.

• it is good practice to encourage all lunchtime supervisors to have first-aid training.
• first-aid provision for off-site activities ie school trips.
• adequate provision for practical departments, such as science, technology, home economics, physical education; and out of hours activities such as clubs and sports.
• any agreements with contractors (eg school meals) on joint provision for first aid for their employees.

How many First Aid Kits does a school need?

The assessment of a school’s first-aid needs should include the number of first-aid kits.

Additional first-aid containers will be needed for split-sites, split-levels, distant sports fields or playgrounds, any other high-risk areas and offsite activities.

What should your school First Aid Kit contain?

Mark all first-aid kits and containers  with a white cross on a green background.

There is no mandatory list of items for a first-aid container.

However, the HSE recommend that, where there is no special risk identified, a minimum provision of first-aid items would be:

• a leaflet or booklet giving general advice on first aid
• 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes)
• two sterile eye pads
• four individually wrapped triangular bandages
• six safety pins
• six medium sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm), individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• two large (approximately 18cm x 18cm) sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings
• one pair of disposable gloves.

Checking and restocking the First Aid Kit

Equivalent or additional items are acceptable.

A school’s first-aid procedures should identify the person responsible for examining the contents of first-aid containers.

Check these frequently and restock as soon as possible after use.

There should be extra stock in the school.

Discard items safely after the expiry date has passed.

Medical room

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996 require every school to have a suitable room available for medical or dental treatment if needed.

The area must contain a washbasin and be reasonably near to a WC.

This should be appropriate for medical purposes and readily available for use when required.  It does not need to be for exclusive medical use.

Recording accidents at school

Employers with 10 or more employees must keep readily accessible accident records, either in written or electronic form. Keep these statutory accident records for a minimum of 3 years.

Schools should also keep a record of any first aid treatment given by first aiders and appointed persons. This should include:

• the date, time and place of incident.
• the name and class of the injured or ill person.
• details of the injury/illness and of first aid treatment.
• what happened to the person immediately afterwards. For example did they go home, resume normal duties, go back to class or go to hospital.
• name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

What to do after the medical emergency?

It is good practice to report all serious or significant incidents to the parents eg by sending a letter home with the child, or telephoning the parents.

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) some accidents must be reported to the HSE.

Accident forms can be helpful to give an overview and highlight trends and accident hot spots in schools. This can assist staff to focus on accident prevention in these areas.

To read more on accidents in schools and how to respond to onsite injuries click here 

First Aid for Life is a fully regulated first aid training provider whose trainers are highly experienced health and emergency services professionals. We specialise in first aid training for schools and offer a full range of courses suitable for staff, parents and pupils. In addition to first aid training, we help schools fulfil all their first aid requirements.

Author: Emma Hammett