First Aid Policy
First Aid Policy
Reviewed by Brandon Robinson 25.08.23
Policy details
- Date created - 20/10/2020
- Date reviewed - 25/08/2022
- Date approved - 11/10/2022
- Next review date - 25/08/2023
- Policy owner - Brandon Robinson
3. Roles and Responsibilities 2
4.1 In-house procedures including Emergency procedures 3
4.2 Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) 3
6. Record-keeping and reporting 4
6.1 First aid and accident record book 4
Information on how to make a RIDDOR report is available here: 5
9. Links with other policies 5
1. Aims
- 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.
- Staff will always use their best endeavours to secure the welfare of pupils.
- Anyone on our Academy premises is expected to take reasonable care for their own and other’s safety.
- The aims of this policy are to:
- Ensure that our 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 our Academy when express permission has been granted for this.
- 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 our 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 2023, which explains where defibrillator is stored and to follow step by step instructions displayed on the device.
3. Roles and Responsibilities
3.1 First Aiders
Our Academy’s first aiders and Care Team 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
- That a nominated First Aider tests the AED monthly and reports defects to the Operations Team
- 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.
3.2 Our Academy Trust Board
The governing board has ultimate responsibility for health and safety matters in our Academy, but delegates operational matters and day-to-day tasks to the Headteacher and staff members.
3.3 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 our 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)
3.4 Staff
Academy staff are responsible for:
- Ensuring they follow first aid procedures
- Ensuring they know who the first aiders in our Academy are. See posters around school.
- Informing HR or their line manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs
4. First aid procedures
4.1 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 seek the assistance of a qualified first aider, if appropriate, 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 our Academy, the first aider will discuss this with the key stage lead/SLT/Care Team to determine if parents need to be contacted to collect their child. Upon their arrival, the appropriate member of staff will recommend next steps to the parents.
- If emergency services are called, parents will be contacted immediately to come to our Academy. The Headteacher/most senior member of SLT will be notified that the emergency services have been called. The Emergency Services Procedure can be found here: Emergency Services Procedure 2022.docx
- The First aider attending the incident will complete an accident report form on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practicable after an incident resulting in an injury.
4.2 Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
- Our Academy has two AEDs on site which are located in the Care Team area in the main building, and the Nurses Room in the Sixth Form Site.
- First aiders receive training on how to use an AED in the First Aid course.
- Where the use of the AED is required, individuals will follow the step-by-step instructions on the device.
4.3 Off-site procedures
When taking pupils off our 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 the visit’s leader prior to any educational visit that necessitates taking pupils off Academy premises.
5. Illnesses
- When a pupil becomes ill during Academy hours a member of SLT/Care Team will decide if they are well enough to be in school. If not, 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
6.1 First aid and accident record book
- For students who require first aid a Student Accident Report form is completed by the first aider / person supporting the student. This information is then transferred to the accident spreadsheet and the report is filed.
- For staff, and contractors, etc, an accident form is completed by the relevant member of staff (not the injured person) on the same day or as soon as possible after an incident resulting in an injury. This needs to be entered by the Care Team staff on the RIVO system provided to us by Bradford Council.
- As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident
- RIDDOR incidents (see 6.2), and potential insurance claims, will be reported to the Trust on Parago.
6.2 Reporting to the HSE
Any accident which results in a reportable injury, disease, or dangerous occurrence as defined in the RIDDOR 2013 legislation (regulations 4, 5, 6 and 7) is reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) by Bradford Council from the RIVO system entry.
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 directly 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
6.3 Notifying parents
Our 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.
7. Training
All first aiders must have completed a training course and must hold a valid certificate of competence to show this. Our Academy will keep a register of all trained first aiders, what training they have received and the expiry date of the training, which will be kept up to date by the Operations team.
Staff are encouraged to renew their first aid training before 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
- Visits and Journeys Policy
This policy should be read in conjunction with the
- Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
- Supporting Students with Medical Needs Policy