First Aid Policy

Purpose

To ensure the school community understands our school’s approach to first aid for students.

Scope

First aid for anaphylaxis and asthma are provided for in the school’s:

• Anaphylaxis Policy
• Asthma Policy

This policy does not include information on first aid requirements for COVID-19. Our school follows the Department’s operational guidance for first aid management relating to COVID-19.

Policy

From time to time Frankston Special Developmental School (FSDS) staff might need to administer first aid to students at school or during school activities or camps. 

Families should be aware that the goal of first aid is not to diagnose or treat a condition.

Staffing

The principal will ensure that FSDS has sufficient staff with the appropriate levels of first aid training to meet the first aid needs of the school community.

Trained first aid officers are listed in our Emergency Management Plan (EMP).  Our EMP includes the expiry dates of the training.

This list is reviewed on an annual basis as part of the annual review of our EMP.

First aid kits

FSDS will maintain first aid kits. 

First aid kit locations:

• Classrooms, one in the senior building, assistant principal’s office, therapy room, homecrafts room

• Portable first aid kit/sto be used for excursions, camps, or yard duty are stored in the therapy room.
• All buses

Holly Murray will be responsible for maintaining all first aid kits, ensuring they are managed in accordance with the Department’s policy and guidance on first aid kits – refer to First aid kits.

Care for ill students

Students who are unwell should not attend school.

If a student becomes unwell during the school day they may be directed to the therapy room and monitored by staff. Depending on the nature of their symptoms, staff may contact families or an emergency contact person to ask them to collect the student.

First aid room/therapy room

Our school follows the Department’s policy and guidance in relation to our first aid room/therapy room to ensure it is safe, hygienic and appropriately equipped: First aid rooms and sick bays. 

First aid management

If there is a situation or incident which occurs at school or a school activity which requires first aid to be administered to a student:

• Staff who have been trained in first aid will administer first aid in accordance with their training. In an emergency situation, other staff may assist in the administration of first aid within their level of competence. 

• In a medical emergency, staff may take emergency action and do not need to obtain family consent to do so. Staff may contact Triple Zero “000” for emergency medical services at any time.
• Staff may also contact NURSE-ON-CALL (on 1300 60 60 24) in an emergency. NURSE-ON-CALL provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• If first aid is administered for a minor injury or condition, FSDS will complete a medical incident form to be sent home with the student.  They may also notify parents/carers by phone.
• Families will be called immediately when an injury occurs involving the head.
• If first aid is administered for a serious injury or condition, or in an emergency situation, school staff will attempt to contact families or emergency contacts as soon as reasonably practical.
• If staff providing first aid determine that an emergency response is not required but that medical advice is needed, school staff will ask families, or an emergency contact person, to collect the student and recommend that advice is sought from a medical practitioner.
• Whenever first aid treatment has been administered to a student FSDS will:

• record the incident on CASES21
• if care was provided in response to a medical emergency or reportable incident, follow the Department’s Reporting and Managing School Incidents Policy, including reporting the incident to the Department’s Incident Support and Operations Centre on 1800 126 126 where required to under that policy.

In accordance with Department of Education and Training policy, analgesics, including paracetamol and aspirin, will not be stored at school or provided as a standard first aid treatments. This is because they can mask signs of serious illness or injury. For further information refer to the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Medication 

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on our school’s website
• Included in staff induction processes and staff training
• Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required
• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following Department policies and guidelines:

• First Aid for Students and Staff
• Health Care Needs
• Infectious Diseases
• Blood Spills and Open Wounds
• Medication
• Syringe Disposals and Injuries

 The following school policies are also relevant to this First Aid Policy:  

• Administration of Medication Policy
• Anaphylaxis Policy
• Asthma Policy
• Duty of Care Policy
• Health Care Needs Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL