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CALDER HIGH SCHOOL
First Aid & Prescription
Medicines Protocol
To be Reviewed: May 2014

Rationale

First Aid is the initial care given to someone if they are injured or have a sudden illness whilst at work.
The school has a duty of care towards its employees, students and anyone visiting the premises.
Trained members of staff should be available at all times within the school day, and first aid kits always
accessible.
The first aid procedure at Calder High School is in operation to ensure that every student, member of staff
and visitors will be well looked after in the event of an accident – major or minor.
In the event of an accident all members of the school community should be aware of the support available
and the procedures available to activate this.
Purpose
To provide effective, safe First Aid assistance for students, staff and visitors and to provide guidance to Staff,
Governors and Parents in respect of a procedure for dealing with the administration of prescription
medicines.
To ensure all staff and students are aware of the system in place.
To provide awareness of Health & Safety issues within school and on school trips, to prevent - where
possible - potential dangers or accidents.
The term FIRST AIDER refers to those members of the school community who are in possession of a valid
First Aid at Work certificate or equivalent. A current list is attached to the end of this policy document.
It is emphasised that the First Aid Team consists of Qualified First Aiders and not trained doctors or nurses.

General Principles
Teachers nor non teaching staff have neither a legal nor contractual duty to administer medicines or provide
health treatment.
Legal responsibilities under The Health and Safety at Work Act remain those of the employer (the LA).
Employees have a responsibility to

1. take reasonable care of their own and others’ health and safety 2. cooperate with their employers 3. carry out activities in accordance with training and instructions 4. inform the employer of any perceived risks
Related Policies
First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013
Guidelines
FIRST AIDERS will:
Ensure that their qualification is always up to date. Ensure that they are available to provide first aid cover at their allocated times throughout each school day. Ensure that alternative cover is secured if they are unable to take their slot in the rota. Ensure that record sheets and ‘yellow slips’ are always available in the First Aid room. Always attend a casualty when requested to do so and treat the casualty to the best of their ability in the safest way possible. This includes wearing gloves where any loss of blood or body fluid is evident, calling for help from other First Aiders or Emergency Services. Help fellow First Aiders at an incident and provide support during the aftermath. Act as a person who can be relied upon to help when the need arises. Ensure that portable first aid kits are adequately stocked and always to hand. Insist that any casualty who has sustained a significant head injury is seen by professionals at the hospital,
either by sending them directly to hospital or by asking parents to pick up a child to take them to hospital.
Ensure that parents are aware of all head injuries promptly.
Complete a ‘yellow slip’ and ensure that all children who receive first aid treatment take this home to inform parents/carers that first aid treatment has been given. A copy of this is at the end of this document and printed forms are stored in the first aid room. Ensure that a child who is sent to hospital by ambulance is either: 1. Accompanied in the ambulance at the request of paramedics. 2. Followed to a hospital by a member of staff to act in loco parentis if a relative cannot be contacted. 3. Met at hospital by a relative. (The First Aider need not be the member of staff to accompany the casualty to hospital, however, an appropriate person should be sent.) Liaison must occur with the teacher in charge of cover, to ensure that lessons are covered in the event of an
absent teacher.
Keep a record of each student attended to - the nature of the injury and any treatment given - in the book provided in the First Aid Room. In the case of an accident, the Accident Book must be completed by the appropriate person. Ensure that everything is cleared away appropriately - using gloves. Any bloodstains on the ground must be washed away thoroughly. No contaminated or used items should be left lying around. THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM will:
Provide adequate First Aid cover as outlined in the Health & Safety [First Aid] Regulations 1981. Monitor and respond to all matters relating to the health and safety of all persons on school premises. Ensure all new staff are made aware of First Aid procedures in school. First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 YEAR LEADERS AND PASTORAL SUPPORT STAFF will:
Ensure that they always obtain the history relating to a student not feeling well, particularly in the cases of headaches, to ensure that no injury has caused the student to feel unwell. Ensure that in the event of an injury, the student must be referred to a First Aider for examination.
At the start of each academic year, provide the First Aid team with a list of students who are known to be asthmatic, anaphylactic, diabetic, epileptic or have any other serious illness. Have a file of up to date medical consent forms for every student in each year and ensure that these are readily available for staff responsible for school trips/outings. TEACHERS will:
Familiarise themselves with the First Aid procedures in operation and ensure that they know who the current First Aiders are. Be aware of specific medical details of individual students when publicised by Year Leaders. Ensure that their students are aware of the procedures in operation. Never move a casualty until they have been assessed by a qualified First Aider unless the casualty is in immediate danger. Send for help to Reception or Student Services as soon as possible either by person or telephone, ensuring that the messenger knows the precise location of the casualty. Where possible, confirmation that the message has been received must be obtained. Reassure - but never treat - a casualty unless staff are in possession of a valid First Aid or know the correct procedures; such staff can obviously start emergency aid until a First Aider arrives at the scene or instigate simple airway measures if clearly needed. Send a student who has minor injuries to Student Services if they are able to walk where a First Aider will see them; this student should be accompanied. Send a student who feels generally ‘unwell’ to their respective Year Leader and not to a First Aider, unless their deterioration seems uncharacteristic and is causing concern. Ensure that they have a current medical consent form for every student that they take out on a school trip which indicates any specific conditions or medications of which they should be aware. OFFICE STAFF will:
Call for a qualified First Aider - unless they are one themselves - to treat any injured student giving the specific location of the casualty. Support the First Aiders in calling for an ambulance or contacting relatives in an emergency. Send students who simply do not feel well to their respective Year Leader. NOT administer paracetamol or other medications
First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013
Protocol for Prescription Medicines

Notes for Parents:
The school holds confidential information about pupils’ health. This needs to be updated regularly. The
provision of this information remains the responsibility of the Parent.
The child’s own doctor is the person best placed to advise whether a child should or should not be in school. The school will consider requests made by Parents in respect of the administration of medicines when: A child suffers from chronic long term illnesses/complaints such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy A child is recovering from a short term illness but requires a course of antibiotics, cough medicines etc. The school has received a written request from a Parent giving the instructions regarding the required dosage (see request form) The request form (attached) must be used whenever a Parent wishes medication to be administered and must be resubmitted termly The medicine must be brought to school in the smallest practicable amount. Medicines will be either self administered in the presence of designated person or will be administered by designated person him/herself according to the dosage instruction provided by the Parent. The school will not be held responsible for failure to administer medication. All medicines must be clearly labelled with owner’s name, dosage and contents. If the school has concerns about the nature of given medication, it reserves the right to refuse their administration. Parents will be advised of this immediately and will be consulted on alternative arrangements. First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 PARENTAL REQUEST FOR ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINE
Child’s name: ___________________________________________
Class Teacher: __________________________________________
The Medicine

Duration of
Completed
medication
prescribed
prescribed

Contact Information
First Contact:
Second contact:
Home telephone:
Home telephone:
Work telephone:
Work telephone:

Doctors’ Information
Name & Surgery Address:
Surgery telephone:

Parents
I clearly understand and accept that:
The medicine must be brought to school in the smallest practicable amount The responsibility for advising the school of changes in dosage remains mine Teachers will not be asked to administer medicine Only the “designated” person will be asked to administer medicine Should designated person refuse to administer given medication, then the school and Parent will consult to find mutually acceptable alternative arrangements The school is under no obligation to administer medicines Medicines will not be administered unless this form is fully completed and resubmitted termly Signed: ______________________________________ (Parent/Carer)
Address of Parent/Carer:
First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 ASTHMA MEDICATION
Child’s Name: _____________________________________________
Class Teacher: ____________________________________________________
The Medicine
Name of
Duration of
Times to be
Completed
medication
prescribed
prescribed
( school )

Contact Information
First Contact:
Second contact:
Home telephone:
Home telephone:
Work telephone:
Work telephone:

Doctors’ Information
Name & Surgery Address:
Surgery telephone:

Parents
I clearly understand and accept that:
The medicine must be brought to school in the smallest practicable amount The responsibility for advising the school of changes in dosage remains mine Teachers will not be asked to administer medicine Only the “designated” person will be asked to administer medicine Should the designated person refuse to administer given medication, then the school and Parent will consult to find mutually acceptable alternative arrangements The school is under no obligation to administer medicines Medicines will not be administered unless this form is fully completed and resubmitted termly Signed: ______________________________________ (Parent/Carer)
Address of Parent/Carer:
First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 Asthma Guidelines:

Education:
The school has a responsibility to advise staff on practical asthma management.
Each teacher has written advice on the management of an acute asthma attack.
School Health Advisers should be consulted in any event.
Pupils who appear over reliant on inhalers may have poorly controlled asthma and need to consult their
doctor.
Parental Communication:
A school asthma register will be maintained and updated regularly.

Parents must provide school with details of dosage, equipment such as relievers, preventers and spacers.
It is the Parents’ responsibility to inform the school of details of treatment and changes as they occur. These
will be recorded on the asthma record cards.
Inhalers:
There are a range including:

Access:
The school will consult with Parents over whether or not inhalers are held by pupil or school.
Inhalers will only be allowed in school once Parents have completed the administration of medicines form.
Parents will be asked to provide a labelled spare inhaler in case the regular one is lost/broken etc.
If inhalers are to be administered by the school, they will be kept centrally in the school’s First Aid Room.
Parents must advise the school of inhaler expiry dates.
Inhalers are only to be used by/for the pupil for who they are prescribed.
Nebulisers:
Some children need to use an electric device called a nebuliser. In such cases, they will only be allowed
following liaison with Parents and the school’s health adviser.
Physical Education:
Full participation remains the goal for pupils with asthmatic conditions. Pupils should take a dose of their
inhaler before exercise. The inhaler should be readily accessible during the P.E. lesson (the school office is
accessible). When swimming, pupils should take their inhaler with them.
Pets:
If pets cause a problem when kept in the class room, they should be removed elsewhere.
Art:
Some art materials may cause difficulty for asthmatic pupils. Teachers should be aware of this.
First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 Epi-Pen Guidelines:
Some pupils may suffer anaphylactic shock through a severe and sudden reaction to insect bites, nut allergy
etc.
The school staff have agreed to administer epi–pen medication in extreme circumstances and only if they
have been trained in the use of an epi-pen. Staff understand that epi–pens are a risk free treatment and a
one shot injection which can do no harm may relieve a potentially high risk medical condition.
Miscellaneous:
The following will not be administered by school staff and will remain the responsibility of contracted and
trained medical support employees:
First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 First Aid Trained Staff

Date of Last Training
Qualification
Qualification
Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work Paediatric First Aid & First Aid at Work First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013 Yellow Slips for all Students Receiving First Aid

At Calder High School we have a group of First Aid trained staff. If emergency medical assistance is required we will call for an ambulance and inform parents/carers. If emergency medical assistance is not necessary, pupils return to lessons as soon as they feel able to. This slip notifies you that your child has received First Aid today and was able to return to lessons. Our First Aid staff are not trained to make a medical diagnosis and your child may require medical
treatment following First Aid.
Your child has been to the First Aid room today for the following reason: The following action was taken: Member of Staff (First Aider): First Aid & Prescription Medicines Protocol May 2013

Source: http://www.calderhigh.org.uk/resources/policies/first_aid_medicines_protocol.pdf