First Aid Policy

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand this policy, please contact the office on 9560 6371 or glen.waverley.south.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Purpose

Glen Waverley South Primary School wants to ensure the community understands our school’s approach to first aid for students. GWSPS is committed to the health and wellbeing of all our students.  We endeavour to ensure that all students are healthy and safe whilst at school and that incidents and health issues of individuals are addressed appropriately.  We wish to provide accurate and ongoing monitoring of individual children’s health and safety and to create an awareness of procedures to be followed to meet their needs.

Scope

First aid for anaphylaxis and asthma are provided for in our school’s:

• Anaphylaxis Policy
• Asthma Policy

Policy

From time to time Glen Waverley South Primary School 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 Glen Waverley South Primary School 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 in our Emergency Management Plan (EMP). Our EMP includes the expiry dates of the training.

This list is reviewed on an annual basis as part of the annual review of our Emergency Management Plan.

First aid kits

Glen Waverley South Primary School will maintain:

• A major first aid kit which will be stored in the sickbay.
• portable first aid kits which may be used for excursions, camps, or yard duty. The portable first aid kits will be stored in the sickbay.

Administrative staff 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 they may be directed to the sick bay and 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, Glen Waverley South Primary School will notify parents/carers by a Compass notification.
• 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, Glen Waverley South Primary School will:
  • record the provision of first aid treatment on Compass
  • 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 and Training 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
• Included in staff handbook/manual
• Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required
• Included in transition and enrolment packs
• Discussed at parent information nights/sessions
• Reminders in our school newsletter
• 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

 The following school policies are also relevant to this First Aid Policy:

• Administration of Medication Policy

• Anaphylaxis Policy
• Asthma Policy
• Duty of Care Policy
• Health Care Needs Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed	July 2024
Approved by	Principal
Next scheduled review date	July 2027