First aid protocol

Stow on the Wold Primary School
First Aid protocol 2012

Heads
We need a separate head bump book. ALL bumps no matter how
minor they may seem must go in the book. You will need to record
who, what, why, where and most importantly when. This is
because a minor bump could result in problems later.
Parents must be informed. A letter home is not adequate, we must
speak to an appropriate adult, and this is in all cases, not just the
serious ones! After school, is fine for minor bumps.
Driving
Under no circumstances do we drive an injured child to
hospital/doctors.
A parent may drive, but that is their call not ours. This is for a
couple of reasons, the most important being if the child
deteriorates en-route, we may not have a geographical position for
the ambulance. Once we leave school, with or without parent’s
permission we do not have parental responsibility, and therefore
no liability insurance. There would also need to be two adults in
the vehicle. Finally our cars are not insured as ambulances (with
or without business insurance!)
It’s all about covering our backs and harsh as it may seem a sick
child is covered at school, in the car on the way to hospital, if the
worst happens, we are not covered.
Blood
Any blood borne diseases are active for 3 months in dried blood. If
we get blood on us, the clothes must be washed at 60c. We must
also disinfect any surfaces where the blood was.
First Aid Kit / Blood injuries
We must only use wipes for cleaning our hands and or around the
wound site, ie if blood has run down a leg etc. They must not be
used for directly cleaning wounds. When we clean wounds we
need to use water, tap water is fine.
The wound then needs patting dry, not wiping.
All open wounds, no matter how minor, need covering. A
waterproof plaster first then if necessary a fabric plaster for small
wounds. Larger dressings, for larger wounds.

Medication
Inhalers, there is no reason why we need anything other than blue
inhalers in school. The other coloured ones are various forms of
preventative medication, if they need to be in school, we need a
doctor’s note. Inhalers should be in the same room as the children.
We must also have one on the playground. This is the only
medication that can be shared.
If the child needs an inhaler it must be brought to them, they must
not have to go and fetch it.
They can have as many puffs as they need, you do not give say 5
and then stop! You keep going, if it does not have any effect within
2 mins or it’s the first attack, it is a 999 call. Don’t lie the child
down. Inhaler dates need checking and also ensure that it is
Ventolin or Salbutamol and has not been swapped for a different
medication.
Epi-pens need to be with child at all times, would suggest dinner-
ladies bag. Ideally need to know what child is allergic to.
Absolutely must not share this medication under any
circumstances. There is
no mistaking an anaphylactic attack, it needs treating and followed
up with a 999 call, the epi-pen is only ‘buying time’ until the
ambulance arrives. If child is asthmatic as well (quite likely) the
anaphylaxis needs treating first, as the airways will be starting to
close, and an inhaler will not be as effective.
Poison
We must remove the danger, get help and evidence. The medical
team will need to know exactly what the poison was and when it
was taken.
Poisons can be ingested, injected, inhaled, instilled or absorbed.
Rule of thumb for treatment; non-corrosive, nil by mouth.
Corrosive, milk/water (swill and spit method).
Epilepsy
Make sure they are safe; let them sleep, unless it’s the first attack.
Make sure they are breathing when episode finishes, loosen any
clothing etc. Do not put fingers in mouth, they may bite. Put in
recovery position.
Diabetes If in doubt as to the cause of a child behaving differently, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with diabetes, give them something sweet ie. Honey, jam, OJ. If this is clearly ‘perking them up’ then follow up with a sandwich (or similar). It is far easier and less dangerous to reduce a high sugar level than to raise someone who has dropped too low. CPR If we need to commence CPR, a baby counts as 0-12 mths, child 12mths-puberty, adult puberty +. If you are alone Babies, children and anyone pulled from water; 5 rescue breaths then 30 compressions:2 breaths, this would continue on that cycle for one minute before you get help. An adult needing CPR you must call for help first. If you have someone with you Establish what has happened, send person with full details to call 999, make sure they come back! Nosebleeds Sit child forward, hold whole of the soft part of the child’s nose (they should do this themselves) Do not stick anything up nose! Do this for 10 mins see if it has stopped, if not repeat. This can be repeated 3 times, ie for 30 mins. If it still has not stopped it counts as a serious bleed and child needs hospital. Regardless of seriousness, parents need informing as they may be trying to establish a pattern, so details of when attack occurred and if known why, would be useful. Choking If a child is choking, try and get them to cough, if that doesn’t work, support them carefully across the chest, then between the shoulder blades administer up to 5 back blows, followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, this pattern can be repeated until patient stops choking or collapses. Do not put fingers or anything else in their mouth. Be prepared to commence CPR as detailed above. Do not worry about object going into lungs, the most important thing is to get them breathing. If you have had to do abdo thrusts the patient must go to hospital.
On a baby you would need to do 5 back blows followed by 5
compressions. Do not do thrusts.
Back blows should be administered using ‘reasonable’ force.
Finally…….
If in any doubt seek further help, eg doctors, hospital or NHS
Direct (0845 46 47).
Ratified by Governing Body: May2013
Signed: .
Chair of Governors
Signed: .
Head Teacher
Date: .

Source: http://www.stowprimaryschool.co.uk/school-policies/StowPrimarySchool-FirstAidProtocol2013.pdf