Rationale

All children have the right to feel safe and know that they will be attended to with due care when in need of first aid.

Aims:

• To administer first aid to children when in need in a competent and timely manner.
• To communicate children’s health problems to parents when considered necessary.
• To provide supplies and facilities to cater for the administering of first aid.
• To maintain a sufficient number of staff members trained with a Level 2 First Aid Certificate.

Implementation:

• A first aid room will be available for use at all times.  A comprehensive supply of basic first aid materials will be stored in the first aid/sick bay room in the administration building next to the School’s main office.
• First aid kits will be available in each building of the school.
• A supply of medications for teachers will be available in a locked drawer in the school’s security room.
• The first aid duties will be organised to suit the school’s needs.  One staff member will be nominated daily for treatment of minor injuries.
• All injuries or illnesses that occur during class time will be referred to the office staff who will manage the incident.  All injuries or illnesses that occur during recess or lunch break, will be referred to the office to be attended to by the administration first aid trained staff member.
• A confidential up-to-date register located in the first aid room will be kept of all injuries or illnesses experienced by children that require first aid.
• All staff will be provided with basic first aid management skills, including blood spills, and a supply of protective disposable gloves will be available for use by staff.
• Minor injuries only will be treated by staff members on duty, while more serious injuries-including those requiring parents to be notified or suspected treatment by a doctor – require a Level 2 first aid trained staff member to provide first aid.
• Any children with injuries involving blood must have the wound covered at all times.
• No medication, including headache tablets, will be administered to children without the express written permission of parents or guardians.
• Parents of all children who receive first aid, when considered necessary, will receive a completed form indicating the nature of the injury, any treatment given, and the name of the teacher providing the first aid.  For more serious injuries/illnesses, the parents/guardians must be contacted by the administration staff so that professional treatment may be organized.  Any injuries to a child’s head, face, neck or back must be reported to parents/guardians.
• Any student who is collected from school by parents/guardians as a result of an injury, or who is administered treatment by a doctor/hospital or ambulance officer as a result of an injury, or has an injury to the head, face, neck or back, or where a teacher considers the injury to be greater than “minor” will be followed up by the Principal. 
• Parents of ill children will be contacted to take the children home.
• Parents who collect children from school for any reason (other than emergency) must sign the child out of the school in a registered maintained in the school office.
• All teachers have authority to call an ambulance immediately in an emergency.  If the situation and time permit, a teacher may confer with others before deciding on an appropriate course of action.
• All school camps will have at least one Level 2 first aid trained staff member at all times.
• A comprehensive first aid kit will accompany all camps, along with a mobile phone.
• All children attending camps or excursion will have provided a signed medical form providing medical details and giving teachers permission to contact a doctor or ambulance should instances arise where their child requires treatment.  Copies of the signed medical forms to be taken on camps and excursions, as well as kept at school.
• All children with asthma especially those that have a documented asthma management plan, will have access to Ventolin and a spacer at all times.
• The Senior Administration Officer is responsible for the purchase and maintenance of first aid supplies, first aid kits, ice packs and the general upkeep of the first aid room.
• At the commencement of each year, request for updated first aid information will be sent home including request for any asthma management plans, high priority medical forms, and reminders to parents of the policies and practices used by the school to manage first aid, illnesses and medications throughout the year.
• General organisational matters relating to first aid will be communicated to staff at the beginning of each year.  Revisions of recommended procedures for administering asthma medication will also be given at that time.