All staff will read and be aware of this policy, know who to contact in the event of any illness, accident or injury, and ensure that this policy is followed.
Staff will always use their best endeavours to secure the welfare of pupils.
Anyone on our Academy premises is expected to take reasonable care for their own and other’s safety.
The aims of this policy are to:

Ensure that our Academy has adequate, safe and effective first aid provision for every pupil, member of staff and visitor to be well looked after in the event of any illness, accident or injury, no matter how major or minor.
Ensure that staff and pupils are aware of the procedures in the event of any illness, accident or injury.
Ensure that medicines are only administered at our Academy when express permission has been granted for this.

Nothing in this policy will affect the ability of any person to contact the emergency services in the event of a medical emergency. For the avoidance of doubt, staff should dial 999 in the event of a medical emergency before implementing the terms of this policy and make clear arrangements for liaison with ambulance services on our Academy site.

2. Legislation and guidance

This policy has due regard to legislation and statutory guidance, including, but not limited to, the following:

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which state that employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment and facilities to enable first aid to be administered to employees, and qualified first aid personnel
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, which require employers to assess the risks to the health and safety of their employees
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, and arrange for appropriate information and training
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013, which state that some accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and set out the timeframe for this and how long records of such accidents must be kept
Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, which set out rules on the retention of accident records
AED guide for schools Sept 2023, which explains where defibrillator is stored and to follow step by step instructions displayed on the device.

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 First Aiders

Our Academy’s first aiders and Care Team are responsible for:

Taking charge when someone is injured or becomes ill, administering immediate first aid to pupils, staff or visitors and to ensure an ambulance or other professional help is called, when necessary
Ensuring there is an adequate supply of medical materials in first aid kits, and replenishing the contents of these kits
That a nominated First Aider tests the AED monthly and reports defects to the Operations Team
Ensure that their first aid certificates are kept up to date
Acting as first responders to any incidents; they will assess the situation where there is an injured or ill person, and provide immediate and appropriate treatment
Sending pupils home to recover, where necessary
Filling in an accident report on the same day, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, after an incident.

3.2 Our Academy Trust Board

The governing board has ultimate responsibility for health and safety matters in our Academy, but delegates operational matters and day-to-day tasks to the Headteacher and staff members.

3.3 The Headteacher

The Headteacher is responsible for the implementation of this policy, including:

Ensuring that an appropriate number of trained first aid personnel are always present in our Academy
Ensuring that first aiders have an appropriate qualification, keep training up to date and remain competent to perform their role
Ensuring all staff are aware of first aid procedures
Ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed and appropriate measures are put in place
Undertaking, or ensuring that managers undertake, risk assessments, as appropriate, and that appropriate measures are put in place
Ensuring that adequate space is available for catering to the medical needs of pupils
Reporting specified incidents to the HSE when necessary (see section 6)

3.4 Staff

Academy staff are responsible for:

Ensuring they follow first aid procedures
Ensuring they know who the first aiders in our Academy are. See posters around school.
Informing HR or their line manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs

4. First aid procedures

4.1 In-house procedures including Emergency procedures

In the event of an accident resulting in injury/emergency:

The closest member of staff present will assess the seriousness of the injury and seek the assistance of a qualified first aider, if appropriate, who will provide the required first aid treatment
The first aider, if called, will assess the injury and decide if further assistance is needed from a colleague or the emergency services. They will remain on scene until help arrives
The first aider will also decide whether the injured person should be moved or placed in a recovery position
If the first aider judges that a pupil is too unwell to remain in our Academy, the first aider will discuss this with the key stage lead/SLT/Care Team to determine if parents need to be contacted to collect their child. Upon their arrival, the appropriate member of staff will recommend next steps to the parents.
If emergency services are called, parents will be contacted immediately to come to our Academy. The Headteacher/most senior member of SLT will be notified that the emergency services have been called. The Emergency Services Procedure can be found here: Emergency Services Procedure 2022.docx
The First aider attending the incident will complete an accident report form on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practicable after an incident resulting in an injury.

4.2 Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

Our Academy has two AEDs on site which are located in the Care Team area in the main building, and the Nurses Room in the Sixth Form Site.
First aiders receive training on how to use an AED in the First Aid course.
Where the use of the AED is required, individuals will follow the step-by-step instructions on the device.

4.3 Off-site procedures

When taking pupils off our Academy premises, staff will ensure they always have the following:

An Academy mobile phone
A portable first aid kit
Information about the specific medical needs of pupils
Parents’ contact details

Risk assessments will be completed by the visit’s leader prior to any educational visit that necessitates taking pupils off Academy premises.

5. Illnesses

When a pupil becomes ill during Academy hours a member of SLT/Care Team will decide if they are well enough to be in school. If not, the parents will be contacted and asked to pick their child up as soon as possible.
A quiet area will be set aside for withdrawal and for pupils to rest while they wait for their parents to pick them up. Pupils will be monitored during this time.

6. Record-keeping and reporting

6.1 First aid and accident record book

For students who require first aid a Student Accident Report form is completed by the first aider / person supporting the student. This information is then transferred to the accident spreadsheet and the report is filed.
For staff, and contractors, etc, an accident form is completed by the relevant member of staff (not the injured person) on the same day or as soon as possible after an incident resulting in an injury. This needs to be entered by the Care Team staff on the RIVO system provided to us by Bradford Council.
As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident
RIDDOR incidents (see 6.2), and potential insurance claims, will be reported to the Trust on Parago.

6.2 Reporting to the HSE

Any accident which results in a reportable injury, disease, or dangerous occurrence as defined in the RIDDOR 2013 legislation (regulations 4, 5, 6 and 7) is reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) by Bradford Council from the RIVO system entry.

Reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences include:

Death
Specified injuries, which are:

Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes
Amputations
Any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight
Any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs
Serious burns (including scalding)
Any scalding requiring hospital treatment
Any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours

Injuries where an employee is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not including the day of the incident)
Where an accident leads to someone being taken directly to hospital
Near-miss events that do not result in an injury but could have done. Examples of near-miss events relevant to schools include, but are not limited to:

The collapse or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment
The accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause severe human illness
The accidental release or escape of any substance that may cause a serious injury or damage to health
An electrical short circuit or overload causing a fire or explosion

Information on how to make a RIDDOR report is available here:

How to make a RIDDOR report, HSE http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm

6.3 Notifying parents

Our Academy will inform parents of any accident or injury sustained by a pupil, and any first aid treatment given, on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.

7. Training

All first aiders must have completed a training course and must hold a valid certificate of competence to show this. Our Academy will keep a register of all trained first aiders, what training they have received and the expiry date of the training, which will be kept up to date by the Operations team.

Staff are encouraged to renew their first aid training before it is no longer valid.

8. Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed every year. At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing body.

9. Links with other policies

This First Aid Policy is linked to the

Health and Safety Policy
Visits and Journeys Policy

This policy should be read in conjunction with the

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
Supporting Students with Medical Needs Policy

Co-op Academy Southfield