Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations1981, employers are responsible for providing adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. HSE has published detailed first aid guidance to help employers comply with the regulation sand offers practical advice on what they need to do.
In practice, most day-to-day functions in respect of health and safety and first aid are the responsibility of the headteacher or principal. Employers should provide any relevant information to help them in drawing up the arrangements for their schools First Aid provision.
The minimum First aid provision for schools is:
A suitable first aid container stocked in accordance with the findings of the first aid needs assessment and holding at least the minimum requirements suggested by HSE
An appointed person or designated first aider(s) to take charge of first aid arrangements
Information for employees detailing the location of equipment, facilities and personnel
Any member of school staff may be asked to undertake first aid tasks, Teachers and other staff working with pupils and students are expected to use their best endeavours at all times, particularly in emergencies, to secure the welfare of the pupils and students in education.
In general, the consequences of taking no action are likely to be more serious than those of trying to assist in an emergency.
First Aid provision must be available while people are on school or college premises. It must also be available when staff, pupils and students are working elsewhere on school or college activities including any off-site activity such as educational visits. The regulations require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel based on a first aid needs assessment
Completing your own First Aid assessment should include:
· The size of the building
· How many buildings are onsite
· How many staff and children are on site at any one time
· How quickly will it take someone to assist if called in a medical emergency
There is no rule on the number of first aiders required as this will be identified as part of the first aid needs assessment and will be based on the circumstances of each individual school.
Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations1981, employers are responsible for providing adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. HSE has published detailed first aid guidance to help employers comply with the regulation sand offers practical advice on what they need to do.
In practice, most day-to-day functions in respect of health and safety and first aid are the responsibility of the headteacher or principal. Employers should provide any relevant information to help them in drawing up the arrangements for their schools First Aid provision.
The minimum First aid provision for schools is:
A suitable first aid container stocked in accordance with the findings of the first aid needs assessment and holding at least the minimum requirements suggested by HSE
An appointed person or designated first aider(s) to take charge of first aid arrangements
Information for employees detailing the location of equipment, facilities and personnel
Any member of school staff may be asked to undertake first aid tasks, Teachers and other staff working with pupils and students are expected to use their best endeavours at all times, particularly in emergencies, to secure the welfare of the pupils and students in education.
In general, the consequences of taking no action are likely to be more serious than those of trying to assist in an emergency.
First Aid provision must be available while people are on school or college premises. It must also be available when staff, pupils and students are working elsewhere on school or college activities including any off-site activity such as educational visits. The regulations require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel based on a first aid needs assessment
Completing your own First Aid assessment should include:
· The size of the building
· How many buildings are onsite
· How many staff and children are on site at any one time
· How quickly will it take someone to assist if called in a medical emergency
There is no rule on the number of first aiders required as this will be identified as part of the first aid needs assessment and will be based on the circumstances of each individual school.
First Aiders
To qualify as a first aider an individual should undergo appropriate training on an accredited First Aid qualification by an accredited training provider who can provide compliant and accredited certificates
First Aid training
It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that their first aid staff have received the appropriate first aid training delivered by a compliant accredited first aid training provider.
First Aiders in secondary schools should be provided with additional training above the minimum requirement, for example additional training in paediatric first aid (standard first aid at work training courses do not include resuscitation procedures for children).
First aid certificates are usually valid for 3years. Employers should arrange retraining before certificates expire. Once certificate expires, the individual would have to undertake another full course to be reinstated as a first aider.
It is strongly recommended that first aiders undertake annual refresher training to maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in procedures.
In selecting a first aider, the following factors should be considered:
· Reliability and communications kills
· Aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills
· Ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures
· Availability to respond to an emergency immediately
First aiders will be expected to:
· Give immediate help to casualties with common injuries or illnesses and those arising from specific hazards at the school or college or on educational visits
· When appropriate, ensure that an ambulance or other professional medical help is called.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/first-aid-in-schools/first-aid-in-schools-early-years-and-further-education
First Aiders
To qualify as a first aider an individual should undergo appropriate training on an accredited First Aid qualification by an accredited training provider who can provide compliant and accredited certificates
First Aid training
It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that their first aid staff have received the appropriate first aid training delivered by a compliant accredited first aid training provider.
First Aiders in secondary schools should be provided with additional training above the minimum requirement, for example additional training in paediatric first aid (standard first aid at work training courses do not include resuscitation procedures for children).
First aid certificates are usually valid for 3years. Employers should arrange retraining before certificates expire. Once certificate expires, the individual would have to undertake another full course to be reinstated as a first aider.
It is strongly recommended that first aiders undertake annual refresher training to maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in procedures.
In selecting a first aider, the following factors should be considered:
· Reliability and communications kills
· Aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills
· Ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures
· Availability to respond to an emergency immediately
First aiders will be expected to:
· Give immediate help to casualties with common injuries or illnesses and those arising from specific hazards at the school or college or on educational visits
· When appropriate, ensure that an ambulance or other professional medical help is called.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/first-aid-in-schools/first-aid-in-schools-early-years-and-further-education
Resuscitation Council Guidelines
The Resuscitation Council updated guideline regarding resuscitation ages is an important change that secondary school First Aiders should take not of:
A child is between 1 year and 18years of age.
Get in touch today for further information on out First Aid qualifications and training for schools
Resuscitation Council Guidelines
The Resuscitation Council updated guideline regarding resuscitation ages is an important change that secondary school First Aiders should take not of:
A child is between 1 year and 18years of age.
Get in touch today for further information on out First Aid qualifications and training for schools