THORNHAM ST.JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL

First Aid Policy

(Including Administration of Medicines)

 

The health and safety of all children at Thornham St.James Primary School is of the highest importance to all staff.

This policy explains the practices in place to address the health needs of the children, which may be as a result of accidents or medical conditions.

The school has two fully qualified first aiders who are responsible for dealing with any serious first aid:

• Sarah Millington (2021)
• Richard Johnson (2021)

Other members of staff with paediatric First Aid Certificates are:

• Rhonda Rostron (2018)

Others members of staff with Emergency First Aid Training are;

• Adrienne Corr (2018)
• Erica Gadd (2018)
• Kirsty Saville (2018)

 

All members of staff will administer to small cuts and bruises that are the normal occurrence in a school day.

First aid training is carried out in line with current Health and Safety recommendations. This is every 3 years to re- qualify as a first aider and annually in emergency first aid.

First Aid equipment is kept in the stockroom in the infant craft area. Cuts are cleaned using where appropriate running water and/ or alcohol wipes and, if needed, plasters are available.

Gloves are worn by staff when dealing with blood and these are located next to the plasters and wipes. Ice packs are kept in the fridge in the infant craft area and can be used to reduce the swelling for bumps and suspected strains and sprains- a cold compress will be used for head injuries. If ice packs are used then these are first wrapped in a paper towel to prevent contact with the skin. 

 

Dealing with bodily fluids – blood etc.

Aims:

• To administer first aid, cleaning, etc, for the individual.

• To protect the individual and others from further risk of infection.

• To protect the individual administering first aid, cleaning, etc

Procedure to adopt when dealing with blood, body fluids, excreta, sputum and vomit:

• Isolate the area.

• Always use disposable gloves and apron (located in the First Aid Box). NEVER touch body fluids with your bare hands

• Clean the spillage area with diluted bleach in ration of 1:10 (containers for which can be located in the Caretaker’s room)

• Double bag all materials used and dispose of in outside dustbin.

• Blood loss – if possible give individual cotton pad to hold against the injury whilst you put on disposable gloves.

• Always wash hands after taking off disposable gloves.

 

 Off-Site Visits

It is the responsibility of the teacher in charge to take a first aid box with them on the visit.

Small first aid boxes are available in all classrooms and in bags used by the midday assistants. All teachers taking children out of school for a trip, sport activity or residential visit must take a first aid pack and carry any medication needed for individual children.

The first aid equipment is regularly checked and managed by Mrs J.Walker and Mrs. E.Gadd.

All accidents are recorded on a minor accident form and these are stored in the school office.

Any head bumps are recorded and parents are given a ‘head bump’ letter. They are also informed by telephone when necessary. In the event of serious injury or concerns, an accident/ incident report form must be completed and sent to the Local Authority and the child/ adult directed to see a doctor or visit an accident and emergency department to seek

further advice.

Medical information about a child is gathered through the data collection sheets, which are issued annually, as well as through information provided by parent or carer. All important medical information is provided for class teachers and kept in classrooms. Copies are also kept in the office and Head’s office.

All emergency phone numbers are kept in the contact file in the office.

Data collection sheets are kept in a file in the office. A summary of medical concerns and allergies are pinned up on the inside of the large cupboard in the office.

Each new child that starts at the school supplies information regarding health issues. These are passed on to all relevant members of staff.

The school cook is notified of all children with food allergies.

Thornham St. James Primary School will not discriminate against pupils with medical needs 

In certain circumstances it may be necessary to have in place an Individual Health Care Plan. This will help staff identify the necessary safety measures to help support young people with medical needs and ensure that they, and others, are not put at risk. These plans will be drawn up in consultation with parents and relevant health professionals.  They will include the following:-

• Details of the young person’s condition

• Special requirements i.e. dietary needs, pre-activity precautions

• Any side affects of the medicines

• What constitutes an emergency

• What action to take in an emergency

• Who to contact in an emergency

• The role staff can play

 

 Administration of medicines

Ideally it is preferable that parents, or their nominee, administer medicines to their children, this could be effected by the parent visiting the school.  However, in exceptional cases this may not be appropriate.  In such cases a request must be made for medicine to be administered to the young person at school using the appropriate form. (Appendix 1). This must contain clear instructions regarding dosage.

Each request for medicine to be administered to a young person in school will be considered on its merits.  

 

Medicines

Medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist or nurse should always be provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the prescriber’s instructions for administration.  We will not accept medicines that have been taken out of the container as originally dispensed nor make changes to dosage on parent’s instructions.

Ideally, medicines are prescribed in dose frequencies which enable it to be taken outside school hours, parents should be encouraged to ask their prescriber about this.

In some instances e.g. school trips, we will administer medicines that have been bought over the counter such as Piriton and Calpol However, staff will never give a non-prescribed medicine to a young person unless there is a specific prior written agreement from parents. A young person under 16 should never be given aspirin or medicines containing Ibuprofen unless prescribed by a doctor.   

 In the exceptional cases when medicines need to be brought into school, they are kept in the Head’s office or the staffroom fridge. They are stored strictly in accordance with the product instructions and in the original container in which dispensed.  Staff ensure that the supplied container is clearly labelled with the name of the young person, name and dosage of the medicine and the frequency of administration.

All Medicines will be returned to the parent, when no longer required, for them to arrange for safe disposal. They should also collect medicines held at the end of each term.  If parents do not collect all medicines they should be taken to a local pharmacy for safe disposal.

 

Educational Visits

Prior to any residential visit taking place medical forms will be completed by the parents/carer of all pupils. This will allow the school to consider what reasonable adjustments may need to be made to enable young people with medical needs to participate fully and safely on visits.  Arrangements for taking any necessary medicines will need to be taken into consideration.  Staff supervising excursions will always be aware of the medical needs and relevant emergency procedures of pupils in their care.  

Copies of medical forms will be taken on the visit and relevant information also stored in school.

If staff are concerned about whether they can provide for a young person’s safety, or the safety of others, on a visit, the school will seek parental views and medical advice from the school health service and/or the young person’s GP, Specialist Nurse or Hospital Consultant.

Prior to the residential medication should be handed to the first aider by parents/ carers. Following the visit, the first aider will hand back any medication to the child’s parent.

 

Asthma

Parents of asthmatic children are asked to complete a school asthma card and to ensure that their child is equipped with a labelled inhaler. We also request that school is provided with a spare inhaler. Junior children keep their inhalers with them in the classrooms for ease of access. Infant inhalers are stored in the school office so their use can be monitored.

A list of children in school with asthma is kept in the office and is updated regularly. We encourage children with asthma to participate in all aspects of the curriculum including PE.  The school does all that it can to ensure that the environment is favourable to pupils with asthma. 

 

Date of policy September 2019

Reviewed  September  2022 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

THORNHAM ST.JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL

HEADTEACHER: Mrs. M.Johnson

 

Dear Parents

The Administration of Medicine within school

It is important for the safety of our children that school has a safe, clear, smooth-running system of administering medicines to children during the school day.

The policy document has recently been updated and the new procedure is outlined below.

There are two main sets of circumstances when parents require medication to be administered to children in school:

• • cases of chronic illness or long-term complaints such as asthma or diabetes;
• • cases where children are recovering form a short-term illness but are fit enough to  come to school although require the completion of a course of medication, e.g. antibiotics

Where possible, it is preferable that parents (or an adult nominated by the parent) administer medication to their children. 

However, there are times when this might be impossible.  In these cases a written request must be made for medicine to be administered to your child in school.  Each request will be considered on its merits. 

It is the parent’s responsibility:

• •to ensure the appropriate form ‘request for school to give medication’ (available from the school office) is completed;
• •to return the completed form to school for approval;
• •once approved, to hand the medication to the office, clearly labelled with the owner’s name, contents, and dosage, in the smallest practicable amount.  No medicine can be accepted from a child;
• •to collect the medication at the end of the day and to ensure that it is returned each day for the agreed period of administration.

The purpose and clarity of these procedures is important in ensuring the safety of all the children.

For your information we have included a copy of the ‘Request for School to give Medication’ form on the reverse of this letter. 

 

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely

 

 Headteacher

 

 

 

Thornham St.James’ Primary School

Administration of Medicine Consent Form

In the event that you are unable to come into school to administer medication yourself, as a last resort you can request the school to give medication at the discretion of the headteacher.

 

Dear Headteacher

 

I request that. ………………………………………………………(full name of pupil) be given the following medicine (s) while at school.  I confirm it is not possible to amend the timings to allow the medicine to be given out of school hours.

 

Name of medicine:  ………………………………………………………………………………

 

Duration of course:  ………………………………………………………………………………

 

Dose prescribed:  ………………………………………………………………………………

 

Date prescribed:  ……………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Time (s) to be given: ………………………………………………………………………………..

 

The above medication has been prescribed by the family or hospital doctor.  It is clearly labelled indicating contents, dosage and child’s name in FULL.

I understand that the medicine must be delivered to the school and collected by a responsible adult .  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MUST CHILDREN BRING MEDICINES INTO SCHOOL.

I/We accept that this is a service, which the school is not obliged to undertake and also agree to inform the school of any change in dosage immediately.

 

Signed   …………………………………………………………………… (Parent/Guardian)

 

Contact telephone no.  ……………………………………………………

 

Address:  ……………………………………………………………………………………….

 

   ……………………………………………………………………………………… 

 

Date: ……………………………

 

Note to parents:

1. Medication will not be accepted by the school unless this form is completed and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the child and that the administration of the medicine is agreed by the Headteacher.
2. The agreement will be reviewed on a termly basis
3. The governors and Headteacher reserve the right to withdraw this service.

 

Agreement of Headteacher or First Aider

I agree to administer the above.   

 

Name ……………………………………………….      Date……………………………………….