First Aid Policy 2024

First Aid Policy

Policy details

Next review date – January 2025

Contents

Policy details

1. Aims
2. Legislation and guidance
3. Roles and responsibilities
4. First aid procedures
5. Illnesses
6. Record-keeping and reporting
7. Training
8. Monitoring arrangements
9. Links with other policies

Appendix 1 - First Aid Procedures During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Co-op Academy Bebington – First Aid Policy

1. Aims

1. All staff will read and be aware of this policy, know who to contact in the event of any illness, accident or injury, and ensure that this policy is followed.
2. Staff will always use their best endeavours to secure the welfare of pupils.
3. Anyone on the Academy premises is expected to take reasonable care for their own and other’s safety.
4. The aims of this policy are to:

• Ensure that the Academy has adequate, safe and effective first aid provision for every pupil, member of staff and visitor to be well looked after in the event of any illness, accident or injury, no matter how major or minor.
• Ensure that staff and pupils are aware of the procedures in the event of any illness, accident or injury.
• Ensure that medicines are only administered at the Academy when express permission has

been granted for this.

1.5. Nothing in this policy will affect the ability of any person to contact the emergency services in the event of a medical emergency. For the avoidance of doubt, staff should dial 999 in the event of a medical emergency before implementing the terms of this policy and make clear arrangements for liaison with ambulance services on the Academy site.

2. Legislation and guidance

This policy has due regard to legislation and statutory guidance, including, but not limited to, the following:

• The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which state that employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment and facilities to enable first aid to be administered to employees, and qualified first aid personnel
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, which require employers to

assess the risks to the health and safety of their employees

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, and arrange for appropriate information and training
• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013,

which state that some accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and

set out the timeframe for this and how long records of such accidents must be kept

• Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, which set out rules on the retention of accident records
• AED guide for schools Sept 2019, which explains where defibrillator is stored and to follow step

by step instructions displayed on the device.

3. Roles and responsibilities

1. First Aiders

The Academy’s first aiders are responsible for:

• Taking charge when someone is injured or becomes ill, administering immediate first aid to pupils,

staff or visitors and to ensure an ambulance or other professional help is called, when necessary

• Ensuring there is an adequate supply of medical materials in first aid kits, and replenishing the

contents of these kits

• Ensure that their first aid certificates are kept up to date
• 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, where necessary
• Filling in an accident report on the same day, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, after an incident
• Keeping their contact details up to date

2. The Academy Trust Board

The governing board has ultimate responsibility for health and safety matters in the Academy, but delegates operational matters and day-today tasks to the Headteacher and staff members.

3. The Headteacher

The Headteacher is responsible for the implementation of this policy, including:

• Ensuring that an appropriate number of trained first aid personnel are always present in the

Academy

• Ensuring that first aiders have an appropriate qualification, keep training up to date and remain

competent to perform their role

• Ensuring all staff are aware of first aid procedures
• Ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed and appropriate measures are put in place
• Undertaking, or ensuring that managers undertake, risk assessments, as appropriate, and that appropriate measures are put in place
• Ensuring that adequate space is available for catering to the medical needs of pupils
• Reporting specified incidents to the HSE when necessary (see section 6)

4. Staff

Academy staff are responsible for:

• Ensuring they follow first aid procedures
• Ensuring they know who the first aiders in the Academy are
• Informing HR or their line manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs

4. First aid procedures

1. In-house procedures including Emergency procedures

In the event of an accident resulting in injury/emergency:

• The closest member of staff present will assess the seriousness of the injury and in the first instance seek the assistance of the First Aid Coordinator, or a qualified first aider, who will provide the required first aid treatment.
• The first aider, if called, will assess the injury and decide if 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 the Academy, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child. Upon their arrival, the first aider will recommend next steps to the parents
• If emergency services are called, parents will be contacted immediately to come to the Academy. The Headteacher/most senior member of SLT will be notified that the emergency services have been called.
• The First aider attending the incident will complete an accident report form on the same day or as

soon as is reasonably practical after an incident resulting in an injury

2. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

• The Academy has four AED’s on site; these are located in the sports hall corridor adjacent to the Community Office, outside the main office, on a fence next to 3G football pitch gate and one which is kept in the medical room and accompanies school trips/fixtures.
• Where the use of the AED is required, individuals will follow the step-by-step instructions on the device

1. Off-site procedures

When taking pupils off the Academy premises, staff will ensure they always have the following:

• An Academy mobile phone
• A portable first aid kit
• Information about the specific medical needs of pupils
• Parents’ contact details

Risk assessments will be completed by relevant Academy staff prior to any educational visit that necessitates taking pupils off Academy premises.

5. Illnesses

• When a pupil becomes ill during Academy hours, the parents will be contacted and asked to pick

their child up as soon as possible.

• A quiet area will be set aside for withdrawal and for pupils to rest while they wait for their parents to pick them up. Pupils will be monitored during this time.

6. Record-keeping and reporting

1. First aid and accident recording

• An accident form will be completed by the relevant member of staff on the same day after an incident resulting in an injury. Major injury or injury resulting in an ambulance being called will be logged on the Parago system.
• As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident
• For students attending the medical room, a form is completed which includes student details, date, time, location and full details of the event. This information is then transferred

onto Arbor as soon as possible, by the end of the day at the latest. All visits to the Medical room are recorded on a spreadsheet with student name, time of visit, reason for visit, treatment given.

2. Reporting to the HSE

In accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013 and The Trust guidance, the governing body and head teacher of the academy will In the event of a fatality or major injury immediately contact RPA, who are contracted to provide Health, Safety and risk management to our academy and who will notify the appropriate enforcing authority, Health & Safety Executive.

The Head teacher/Operations Manager must always countersign the report form before the original copy is sent to RPA. A copy should also be retained at the establishment. The form is a legal document and the manager must ensure all sections are completed.

Reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences include:

• Death
• 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 scalding requiring hospital treatment

− Any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia

− Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to 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 could have done. 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 explosion Information on how to make a RIDDOR report is available here:

How to make a RIDDOR report, HSE http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm

3. Notifying parents

The Academy will inform parents of any accident or injury sustained by a pupil, and any first aid treatment given, on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.

4. Reporting to Ofsted and child protection agencies

The Headteacher will notify Ofsted of any serious accident, illness or injury to, or death of, a pupil while in the Academy’s care. This will happen as soon as is reasonably practicable, and no later than 14 days after the incident.

The Headteacher or DSL will also notify Wirral Safeguarding team of any serious accident or injury

to, or the death of, a pupil while in the Academy’s care.

7. Training

All Academy staff can undertake first aid training if they would like to. All first aiders must have completed a training course and must hold a valid certificate of competence to show this. The Academy will keep a register of all trained first aiders, what training they have received and the expiry date of the training.

Staff are encouraged to renew their first aid training when it is no longer valid.

8. Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed every year. At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing body.

9. Links with other policies

This first aid policy is linked to the

• Health and safety policy
• Risk assessment policy

This policy should be read in conjunction with the

• Supporting Students with Medical Needs Policy

1. Handling medication

1. When handling medication, staff are expected to:

• Adhere to the Academy’s social distancing and infection control measures as much as

possible.

• Have 2 signatures when administering medication.
• Minimise the time spent near others where maintaining two metres is not possible – staff should use side-by-side interaction with others instead.
• Minimise face-to-face contact where side-by-side interaction is not practical.

2. When handling and storing medication, staff are advised to:

• Wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after they handle medication.
• Wash and disinfect frequently touched surfaces before contact, including any receptacles for

storing medicine, where required.

• Minimise the number of people handling medication.
• Ensure that medication or medical equipment brought in from home is safe to be taken home

again and in original medication box.

2. Emergencies

1. Accidents and emergencies are managed in line with section 4 of this policy.
2. When administering emergency first aid, social distancing restrictions do not apply.
3. A member of staff calls 999 immediately if a symptomatic individual becomes severely unwell or their life is at risk.
4. Parents who must collect their unwell child from the Academy are informed that they must call 999 if their child becomes severely unwell or their life is at risk.

3. Monitoring and review

1. This appendix is reviewed by the Headteacher in reaction to any new government advice.
2. The date of the next review is January 2025.
3. Once the Academy resumes regular activity, and if deemed appropriate by the Headteacher,

all sections within this appendix will expire.