FIRST AID POLICY

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact Dandenong Valley SDS or use the Google Translator at the bottom of this page.

Purpose

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

Scope

First aid for anaphylaxis and asthma provided for in our 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 Dandenong Valley SDS staff might need to administer first aid to students at school or school activities.  

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

Staffing

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

Our school’s trained first aid officers are listed and each classroom, admin and office has a copy to refer to.

This list is reviewed on an annual basis.

First aid kits

Dandenong Valley SDS will maintain:

• A major first aid kit which will be stored in the First Aid Room
• Each classroom unit has a portable first aid kit which may be used for yard duty or in classrooms.
• First Aid excursion Bumbags are stored in the cupboard in the office for classrooms to take with them when they leave the school.
• Major first aid kits are prepared by the school nurse according to the destination and students attending the camp and are taken on all camps.

School Nurse 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 a call may be directed to the School Nurse and the student monitored by staff. Depending on the nature of their symptoms, staff may contact parents/carers or an emergency contact person to ask them to collect the student.

First aid room/sick bay area

Our school follows the Department’s policy and guidance in relation to our first aid room/sick bay area 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 parent/carer 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, Dandenong Valley SDS will notify parents/carers by a note home, a message on Seesaw, delivering an in person message or a phone call.
• If first aid is administered for a serious injury or condition, or in an emergency situation, school staff will attempt to contact parents/carers 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 parents/carers, or an emergency contact person, to collect the student and recommend that advice is sought from a medical practitioner.
• Whenever first aid treatment is administered to a student resulting from a student incident, injury or illness, Dandenong Valley SDS will:
  • If the first aid treatment is provided following a recorded incident, the details are recorded through the eduSafe Plus Incident For all other presentations, the eduSafe Plus Sick Bay form is used.
  • 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 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

Further information and resources

DANDENONG VALLEY SDS POLICIES

• Health Care needs policy
• Administration of medication policy
• Anaphylaxis policy
• Asthma policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

 Click here to view the First Aid Policy Document (PDF)