First Aid, Accident and Welfare Procedures

Reviewed by: Resources Committee, 5th March 2025

Next Review: Spring 2026

INTRODUCTION

The H&S at Work Act (HSWA) 1974 places duties on employers for the health and safety of their employees and anyone else on the premises. This covers the Headteacher and teachers, non-teaching staff, children and visitors. Kelvin Grove School is under a general duty to provide a safe place of work, with suitable arrangements, including welfare.   This Policy describes what facilities are in place and should be read in conjunction with the Asthma Policy. 

Kelvin Grove School must ensure that there is adequate first aid provision for persons who may become ill or are injured, as part of their undertaking for Kelvin Grove School. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Headteacher/H&S Committee who must assess the nature of activities within the school when determining the number of first aiders to appoint.   

The responsibilities of the Headteacher/ H&S Committee, in accordance to this Policy are outlined in Appendix 1.

POLICY STATEMENT

Kelvin Grove School is committed to providing sufficient numbers of first aid personnel to deal with accidents and injuries occurring at the school.  To this end, Kelvin Grove School will provide information and training on first aid to staff to ensure that they can meet the statutory requirements and the needs of the school is met.

Should persons have concerns about the provision of first aid within the organisation, they should inform:

• The Headteacher
• Health & Safety Committee

These concerns will  be  investigated  and  an  assessment  will  conclude  if  any rectification is required.

Any injuries which include:

• A knock or bang to the head (even if there is no visible sign of injury)
• Bleeding (more than a graze)
• Possible break (difficulties or pain moving limbs)

MUST BE REFERRED TO A FIRST AIDER

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SECURING FIRST AID PROVISIONS

The following arrangements should be followed in order to ensure that suitable and sufficient provision of first aid staff and equipment is available within the school;

1. First Aiders should inform the Headteacher/School Business Manager that their training certification period is nearing (6 months minimum) expiry.
2. The Headteacher/School Business Manager must ensure that staff are familiar with the identity and location of their nearest First Aider and first aid box.
3. The name(s) and location(s) of First Aiders and equipment must be displayed adequately throughout the school.
4. Ensure that the Principal First Aider maintains first aid boxes ensuring that the contents have not expired.
5. Maintain easy access to a First Aider and first aid box.
6. Ensure that all staff are familiar with requirements of this Policy through information/visitors pack, instruction and training.

First Aiders

First Aiders are employees who have been chosen by the Headteacher as being suitable for training and appointment as a nominated First Aider.

First Aiders are qualified personnel who have received training and passed an examination in accordance with H&S Executive requirements.   Refresher training courses at regular intervals are in place as required by legislation to ensure that their skills are maintained. (Every three years)

See who is a first aider at Kelvin Grove here: First Aiders

For responsibilities of a First Aider refer to Appendix 2.

Principal First Aider

The current information regarding the location of first aid boxes and the First Aider responsible for their up-keep will be Michelle Adams and Kirsty Gibbs the school principal First Aiders.  Re-stocking the first aid boxes will be overseen by the principal First Aiders. 

For responsibilities of a Principal First Aider refer to Appendix 2.

First Aid Boxes

All First Aid boxes are marked with a white cross on a green background.  The First Aid boxes are provided by the school and are placed in locations throughout the school as follows:

• The First Aid Area
• All Classrooms
• Main School Office
• Deputy Headteachers Office
• The Children’s Centre

The contents of the boxes will be determined through the advice of the first aider.  The boxes will not include medicines.  For more information on the administration of medicines please refer to the school’s Administration of Medicines Policy.  The upkeep and replenishment of the boxes is the responsibility of the Principal First Aider.  The contents should be regularly assessed and expired items discarded of.

School Trip First Aid Kits

School/Field trip First Aid kits are to be made available for those persons who are required to undertake their work/activity away from their normal place of work, external to the school, where an assessment has highlighted that access to such facilities may be restricted. The school trip first aid kit can be found in the following location:

• All Classrooms
• Main School Office

Examples of these circumstances include (but are not exhaustive)

• school trips at home and abroad
• persons travelling in vehicles on a regular basis, away from the school
• sporting or social events arranged or supported by the school

However, if attending the premises of a third party where first aid arrangements have been assessed to be suitable and the third party can cover the school’s needs, then persons in attendance should be provided with relevant information of the first aid arrangements prior to attending and then made familiar of the arrangements again on their arrival to the third party premises.

The need for sterile water for eye irrigation should be considered if normal tap water is not available, this will particularly apply in first aid containers used on journeys.

First Aid Area

This is located in the DSL’s Room

RECORDING OF ACCIDENTS

All accidents must be recorded, however minor, in line with School Accident Reporting Procedures outlined in the school’s Health and Safety policy. First aiders must complete an accident/incident report on Medical Tracker, links which are available through the staff handbook and bookmarked on staff iPads.

Official accident report forms (CS2 and RIDDOR) are completed online by the medical officer and the school business manager.

It is the responsibility of staff to complete the online form as soon as possible after the incident has occurred.   Where the injured person is unable to complete their own details of the accident, the First Aider in attendance and/or witness (where relevant) should enter the details on the injured persons behalf. The record should include: date; time; first aid administered and by whom.  However, it is the responsibility of the Headteacher to ensure that all staff are aware of the procedure for reporting of accidents.

Reporting Accidents

Where an accident results in a head injury, a person being taken to hospital, or inability to continue to attend or subsequently becomes absent from work/school as a result of the accident then the following should be notified immediately following the school absence policy i.e. letter, telephone, e-mail, fax:

• Parents
• Emergency contacts
• Emergency services
• Insurance provider (where applicable)

Reviewing Accidents

The resources committee meet termly and review the accidents over the previous term to look for repeating patterns.  Actions are implemented where necessary.

Management of Blood and Bodily Fluids

All blood and bodily fluids should be disposed of in the clinical waste bins that are situated in:

• The disabled toilet in the dining room
• The disabled toilet in the Paxton building
• The medical room

When bodily fluids need to be removed the premises officers should be called who have the correct equipment to safely remove and dispose of the fluids.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. It is characterised by rapidly developing, life-threatening problems involving: the airway (pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema) and/or breathing (bronchospasm with tachypnoea) and/or circulation (hypotension and/or tachycardia). In most cases, there are associated skin and mucosal changes.

Children with anaphylaxis have care plans.  Epi-pens are stored in the school office and the classrooms.  Staff are trained to use epi-pens by the principle first aiders, there is also a video available in the staff handbook that is sent to staff annually. Staff can practice with a dummy epi-pen which is stored in the Main School Office and can be used with one of the principal first aiders.

If a child were to have a reaction for the first time, the paramedics will be called immediately and advice followed.  In the event of an emergency and following the advice of the paramedics and epi-pen will be administered.

The school keeps 2 emergency epi-pens in the school office.

Diabetes

If a child of member of staff suffers with diabetes a care plan will be written and shared with the staff they work closely with.  Sugar replacements are stored in the fridge in the school office if they are required.

Communicable Diseases

The Admin Officer reports communicable diseases to the NHS, London as and when the school is notified of a particular disease or an epidemic.  The reports are stored in the ‘Infectious Diseases in Schools’ in the school office.

APPENDIX 1

Responsibilities of the Headteacher/H&S Committee

The Headteacher/H&S Committee have the following responsibilities to:

1   Identify  the  nature  of  activities  with  the  school  and  review  first  aid requirements as processes, staff or the environment changes;

2   Determine the number of First Aiders to appoint by taking into consideration; absence of First Aiders due to holidays and sickness, numbers of persons present beyond the normal operation hours of the school i.e. evenings, weekends, holiday periods

3   Consider the “suitability” of the First Aider as this person may have to treat someone:

• suffering from Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy
• suffering from a heart attack
• who is bleeding profusely

4   Consider the “capability” of the persons they nominate and/or persons who volunteer. (For further details refer to Responsibilities of First Aiders, Appendix 2).

6   Ensure that there are adequate supplies of and financial provisions for first aid equipment.

7   Keep current records of training and expiry dates for First Aiders.

8   Inform staff of arrangements which have been made for first aid and keep them suitably appraised of any changes.

9   Ensure that supply staff and visitors to the school are aware of how to summon first aid assistance.

APPENDIX 2

Responsibilities of First Aiders

All appointed First Aiders at Kelvin Grove School have the following responsibilities to:-

1.  First Aid Practice

• Be readily available
• Follow the principles and practices as laid down by the first aid course and manuals
• Comply with the aims of first aid:-
  • To preserve life
  • To prevent the condition worsening
  • To promote recovery

• Quickly and accurately assess the situation
• Identify the condition from which the casualty is suffering; but not to treat any illness or injury which is beyond your capability
• Give immediate, appropriate and adequate treatment, bearing in mind that a casualty may have more than one injury and that some casualties will require more urgent attention than others
• Arrange, without delay, for the transfer of a casualty (should it be required) to their GP, Hospital or home, according to the seriousness of the condition Stay with the casualty until they are handed over to the care of a Doctor, Paramedic, the Hospital A&E unit or other appropriate person
• Not to ignore accidents or illness under any circumstances, or to refuse to give treatment and assistance if required to do so
• Not to undress any patient unnecessarily
• Safeguard the patient’s clothing and possessions
• Respect the patient’s confidentiality at all times, and not to discuss the patients condition with anyone other than the Headteacher or the Emergency Services
• Maintain the highest practicable level of cleanliness whenever treating a patient
• Maintain a record of all patients treated, no matter how trivial
• School minibus drivers should be made aware of any pupil with medical needs and to be made aware of procedures and protocols to follow. Drivers should be clear about roles and responsibilities and liabilities.

2. First Aid Area

• Keep the first aid room clean and adequately stocked
• Ensure that the first aid cabinet contains the approved first aid materials and nothing else  and that any damaged, open or expired materials are disposed of in the appropriate manner
• Clean and maintain in a good state of repair all ancillary equipment within your area, e.g. eye wash bottles etc.

3. Personal

• Attend refresher courses as necessary
• Display certificate of competence

APPENDIX 3

Responsibilities of Principal First Aider

It is the role of the Principal First Aider to assist the Headteacher/H&S Committee to meet their responsibilities for first aid by:-

1. Familiarising themselves with this Policy
2. Regularly carrying out an audit to ensure that the first aid kits contain the necessary equipment
3. Regularly checking that the appropriate list and signs showing the location of first aid  equipment  and  personnel  are  updated  and  displayed in conspicuous places
4. To liaise with the H&S committee regarding any advice or training required for the school
5. Ensure Emergency Procedures (Appendix 4) are carried out and accident forms completed stored in a safe place
6. Ensure that relevant teaching and catering are aware of any medical needs of a pupil
7. Maintain Health Care Plans/Records for each pupil at the school
8. Maintain Parental Agreement forms for school to administer medicine
9. Maintain records of medicine administered to all pupils
10. Maintain records of Request for child to carry his/her own medicine
11. Maintain records of authorisation for the  administration  of  rectal diazepam forms
12. Supervise and administer medicine that has been prescribed for an individual child.
13. Ensure medicines are stored strictly in accordance with product instructions (paying particular note to temperature) and in the original container in which dispensed.
14. Ensure that the supplied container is clearly labelled with the name of the child, the name and dose of the medicine and the frequency of administration.
15. Ensure that each child knows where their own medicine is stored and who holds the key.
16. Ensure that emergency medicines, such as asthma inhalers and adrenaline pens, should be readily available to children and not locked away.
17. Any medicines that need to be refrigerated should be kept in an airtight container and clearly marked.   There should be restricted assess to a refrigerator holding medicines.
18. Ensure that all date-expired medicines are return to parents or taken to a local pharmacy for safe disposal
19. Sharps  boxes  should  always  be  used  for  the  disposal  of  needles. Collection and disposal of the boxes should be arranged with the Local Authority’s environmental services.
20. Ensure that protective disposable gloves are worn when dealing with spillages of blood or other body fluids and disposing of dressings or equipment.
    

APPENDIX 4

Emergency Procedures

The First Aider will be responsible for dealing with all medical emergencies. The staff member will report the problem and the First Aider/Principal First Aiders will assess the problem, contacting the Emergency Services  for an ambulance if necessary.

All staff should know who is responsible for carrying out emergency procedures in the event of need.  A member of staff should always accompany a child taken to hospital by ambulance, and  should  stay  until  the  parent  arrives.   Health professionals are responsible for any decisions on medical treatment when parents are not available.

Staff should never take children to hospital in their own car; it is safer to call an ambulance. Lunch time supervisors should report to the First Aider.