First Aid Policy

Policy details

• Approval by Governors - 30th January 2023
• Date of review - 28th Jan 2024
• Date to be reviewed - 28th January 2025

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 the Co-operative Academy of Belle Vue’s responsibility to provide  adequate and appropriate first aid to students’, staff, parents/carers 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 the Co-operative Academy of Belle Vue. The  requirements for the statutory provision of First Aid have been taken into full account to  ensure that it will provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and qualified first  aid personnel. 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 DfE Guidance on First Aid for Schools and is reviewed annually.  

Introduction

Aims
Objectives
Academy First Aid Staff

Personnel

The Head of School
Definitions
Identification of Suitable Employees
Role and Responsibilities of Appointed Persons
The First Aider’s and Appointed Person’s role includes
Indemnity and Insurance
Use of the ‘Epi Pen’
Procedures
Risk assessment
Re-assessment of first-aid provision
Providing information

Provision
How many first-aid personnel are required?
Appointed person
Qualifications and Training
First-aid materials, equipment and facilities

First Aid Containers
Accommodation 
Control of Infection
Dealing with Blood and Body Fluid Spills
Waste Disposal.
Reporting Accidents

Accidents involving pupils and visitors
Record keeping

Monitoring
Action in the Event of Injury – Aide Memoir
Procedures for First Aid Staff
Payment for First Aiders
Monitoring, Evaluation and Review
Appendix 1 - First Aid Information
Appendix 2 - Useful Contacts

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 the Co-operative Academy of Belle Vue’s responsibility to provide  adequate and appropriate first aid to students’, staff, parents/carers 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 the Co-operative Academy of Belle Vue. The  requirements for the statutory provision of First Aid have been taken into full account to  ensure that it will provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and qualified first  aid personnel. 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 DfE Guidance on First Aid for Schools and is reviewed annually.

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.

Academy First Aid Staff

TRIAGE

First Aid chat will be used to send for a member of First Aid staff if a child reports in need of emergency First Aid.

Personnel  

The Head of School  

The Head of School is responsible for the health and safety of their employees and anyone else on  the premises. This includes the teachers, non-teaching staff, pupils and visitors (including  contractors).

 They must ensure that a risk assessment of the Academy is undertaken 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 employment.

The Head of School is responsible for putting the policy into practice and for developing detailed  procedures.

The Head of School should ensure that the policy and information on the Academy’s arrangements  for first aid are made available to parents/carers.

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

Identification of Suitable Employees

In selecting first-aiders, the Head of School 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 Head of School must ensure that 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.  

Definitions

A First Aider is a person who has attended, successfully completed and has a valid  certificate for the 3 day ‘First Aid at Work’ training course approved by the HSE. This is a  voluntary post.

Appointed Person means a person who has attended, successfully completed and has a  valid certificate for the ‘Appointed Persons’ training.

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.

Role and Responsibilities of Appointed Persons  

An Appointed Person is someone who:  

• Takes charge when someone is injured or becomes ill
• Looks after the first-aid equipment eg restocking the first-aid container
•  Ensures that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when  appropriate.

Appointed persons are not first aiders. They should not give first aid treatment for which  they have not been trained. However, it is good practice to ensure that appointed persons  have emergency first aid training/refresher training, as appropriate. These courses do not  require HSE approval. They normally last four hours and cover the following topics:

• What to do in an emergency;
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
• First aid for the unconscious casualty;
• First aid for the wounded or bleeding.

Emergency first-aid training should help an Appointed Person cope with an emergency and  improve their competence and confidence.  

Appointed Person’s role includes:

• 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 Head of School, 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.
• Ensuring, in liaison with the Office Manager, that appropriate documentation  is completed and that reportable (more serious) accidents are reported to them 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 Head of School) 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. It is not to give treatment.

The role of a member of staff discovering a serious injury or illness is to make contact with the Office Manager and manage the situation until a qualified person becomes available.

Office staff will then contact a first aid qualified person and the Office Manager will contact the emergency services if needed.  

There is one main access point for the emergency services which is through the main entrance.

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 students 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  pupil, 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
• They are an Academy officially designated Appointed Person with a current valid  Appointed Persons Training Certificate and have attended relevant refresher training
• The relevant protective equipment (PPE) is used
• The First Aider or Appointed Person is adhering to protocols and acting within the  limitations of their training and the First Aider or Appointed Person 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/carer, 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.
• That the member of staff is acting in good faith.

Procedures

Risk assessment

Reviews are required to be carried out at least annually, and when circumstances alter, at  the request of the Head of School. Recommendations on measures needed to prevent or control  identified risks are forwarded to the Head of School.

Re-assessment of first-aid provision

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

• The Head of School 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

Providing information

The Head of School 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.  

First Aid Notices will be displayed in a prominent place.

Provision

How many first-aid personnel are required?

The Head of School 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 Head of School 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 cover of both First Aider  and Appointed persons is available at all times when people are on Academy premises.

Qualifications and Training

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

Appointed persons will undertake one-day emergency first-aid training. Specialist training in first-aid (FAAW) should be arranged in a three year cycle.

First-aid materials, equipment and facilities

The Head of School 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. First Aid boxes are available in the front office and PE.
 

• All first-aid containers must be marked with a white cross on a green background
• 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:

First Aid Containers  

A schedule showing the locations of First Aid containers will be made available.  Items will be discarded safely after the expiry date has passed.  

Accommodation

The Head of School must provide a suitable room for medical treatment and care of children during  Academy hours. This need not be a dedicated area but should be close to a lavatory and be near to a washbasin.

Control of Infection

Many blood-borne microorganisms 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.

The HIV virus is not readily transmitted in this way and only a small number of cases of  cross infection are documented in health care circles, usually involving heavily infected  patients in the latter stages of their condition.

However, the emergence of HIV/AIDS has served to concentrate attention on sensible and  routine protective measures which should always be employed during the treatment of  bleeding wounds, regardless of the health or otherwise of the casualty.

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.
• The HIV virus has only occasionally been found in saliva and in very small quantities  when compared with blood. No HIV infection is known to have occurred as a result of  carrying out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Therefore, the risk to the first aider is  thought to be extremely small and should not discourage a prompt response in a life saving emergency. A protective resuscitation aid can be used where available and  this may be kept in first aid kits.
• Never reuse 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

Waste Disposal

Waste created by the administration of first aid is categorised as hazardous as it may  contain bodily fluids. However, in most circumstances and premises the amount produced is  minimal and as such special arrangements for disposal are not required.

Reporting Accidents

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

The Head of School must keep a record of any reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence.  This must include: the date and method of reporting; the date, time and place of the event;  personal details of those involved and a brief description of the nature of the event or  disease. This record can be combined with other accident records. All of these reports are kept electronically. If the injured party requires more than basic first  aid (i.e. hospital treatment) the First Aider must contact the Office Manager. A copy of the student/staff information will be printed off ready to give to  the emergency services by the Office Manager. Once the call has been made a  member of staff will meet the emergency services on the main road and direct them to  the injured person.

The following accidents must be reported to the HSE involving employees or self-employed  people working on the premises:

• Accidents resulting in death or major injury (including as a result of physical violence)
• Accidents which prevent the injured person from doing their normal work for more  than three days

For definitions, see HSC/E guidance on RIDDOR1995, and information on Reporting  Academy Accidents (Annex A).

All accidents will be recorded on CPOMS or Parago depending on severity.

Accidents involving students and visitors:

In the case of any accidents that result in the person being killed or being taken from the site  of the accident to hospital and if the accident arises out of or in connection with work i.e. if it  relates to;

• Any Academy activity, both on or off the premises
• The way the Academy activity has been organised and managed
• Equipment, machinery or substances
• The design or condition of the premises

HSE (RIDDOR) must be notified of fatal and major injuries and dangerous  occurrences without delay – the nominated First Aider in charge will do this.

HSE will be notified of fatal and major injuries and dangerous occurrences without  delay (i.e. by telephone). This will be followed up within ten days with a written report on  Form 2508. Other reportable accidents do not need immediate notification, but they will be  reported to HSE within ten days on Form 2508.

The Head of School is responsible for ensuring this happens, but may delegate the duty to the  Health and Safety Officer/Office Manager.

Record keeping

Statutory accident records: The Head of School must ensure that readily accessible accident  records, written or electronic, are kept for a minimum of seven years. (See DSS The  Accident Book BI 510).

Academy’s central record: This can be combined with the RIDDOR record and the Accident  Book, providing all legislation requirements are met. Records are kept electronically.

The Head of School must ensure that a record is kept of any first aid treatment given by first aiders  or appointed persons. This should include:

• The date, time and place of incident
• The name (and class) of the injured person
• Details of their injury and what first aid was given
• What happened to the person immediately afterwards
•  Name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

The Head of School must have in place procedures for ensuring that parents are informed of  significant incidents. All head injuries should be reported to parents/carers as soon as  possible.

Monitoring

Accident records can be used to help the Heads and Health and Safety Officers/Academy  Nurses identify trends and areas for improvement. They also could help to identify training or  other needs and may be useful for insurance or investigative purposes.

The Head of School should establish a regular review and analysis of accident records.

Action in the Event of Injury – Aide Memoir

• The defibrillator is located at the main reception
• There is also a school inhaler located near the main reception in the medicine room (on the staff side of the auto locked door)
• People with minor injuries should report to the teacher.
• Students needing first aid during a lesson should be referred to Triage at reception by the teacher, who will then call for the First Aider on duty once assessed by Triage if  deemed necessary. They should be accompanied by an adult if the injury is more serious.  
• If it would further endanger the student then the nearest First Aider should be called to the  casualty and Reception informed.
• Casualties with suspected fractures or back or neck injuries must not be moved  unless directed by the ambulance personnel. For the patient’s safety and insurance  reasons, they must NOT be moved on the instructions of ANY bystander.
• Injuries and accidents that occur during non contact and break times should be dealt with in  a similar way by the Duty Staff.
• 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.
• In the absence of a parent/carer, a member of staff must accompany the student to  the hospital and remain there until the parent 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

The academy will not allow under any circumstances the administration of non prescriptive medicines in the academy.

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

No treatment or procedure should be attempted for which formal training has not been  undertaken.

All head injuries must be reported to the parent/carer 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. Any injury has to be recorded and parent informed via Arbor.

Payment for First Aiders

A small allowance will be paid to all First Aiders who have a valid current First Aid  Certificate. This payment is an acknowledgement of the individual’s training and commitment  and is paid in accordance with the current First Aid at Work Policy.

This payment will be stopped if the First Aider:

• chooses not to continue as a First Aider, or
• on attendance at the refresher course is found not to be competent, or • allows their certificate to lapse, or
• relocates to a unit/establishment which already has sufficient First Aiders, or leaves  the organisation.

At the Head of School’s discretion, the allowance may be stopped or suspended if the First Aider is  likely to be away from the work base for a considerable period of time, e.g. long term  sickness, home working, maternity leave, unpaid leave etc.

The Appointed Persons do not  receive an allowance.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The Governing Body will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and  effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the Academy.

Appendix One

Statutory Training

First Aid at Work

This is the Head of School 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.  This course takes place over four days (24 hours tuition).  

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). Where staff may need to administer First Aid to children under  seven years of age, an appropriate additional paediatric resuscitation module must also be  taken.

Appointed Person

The minimum requirement on an employer is to appoint a person to take charge of First Aid  arrangements and any emergency First Aid situation. An Appointed Person can provide  temporary cover for First Aiders, ensuring that someone is always available to give First Aid  immediately following an incident. The certificate is valid for three years. This course takes  place over one day (6 hours tuition). Where staff may need to administer First Aid to children  under seven years of age, an appropriate additional paediatric resuscitation module must  also be taken.

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 3 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:

• Guidance card
• Sterile dressings, 6 small, 6 medium and 2 large
• 20 Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (blue detectable in food preparation  areas)
• 2 Sterile eye pads
• 4 Triangular bandages
• 12 Safety pins
• 2 Disposable gloves
• 1 x 300ml bottle of sterile water or normal saline should be supplied where tap water is not  available
• Individually wrapped moist wipes could be supplied where tap water
• is not available
• 1 pair scissors (First Aid Type)
• 1 roll micro pore tape
• 1 resusciade mouthpiece and
• Pencil and paper

Quantities should be decided upon in the light of risk assessment, taking into account the  number of staff and pupils.

There must be no medication of any kind, for example aspirin, paracetamol, antiseptic  creams, burn sprays, 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.

Appendix 2 - 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”, DfE/Department of Health DfE Circular 14/96 “Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs in School”