First Aid
At Cams Hill School we have a dedicated First Aid Room which allows us to treat pupils with minor injuries and provide care for those with health conditions.
Our full Medical Policy can be found here CHS028 Medical Policy
MANAGING MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Pupils with additional medical needs at school may require an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP). These ensure we are able to meet the medical needs of individual pupils and to take appropriate action should an emergency occur. Please contact us by email or telephone if you wish to talk to us regarding your child’s medical conditions. Conditions which might require an IHCP include diabetes, asthma, epilepsy or allergies. This list is not exhaustive, so if you are unsure or have any concerns please contact us to discuss. IHCPs are developed in collaboration with parents, carers, health care professionals, school nursing service and appropriate school staff such as the SENCO.
IHCP Form Link: https://forms.office.com/e/tRZXgDwkgw
MEDICATION
The school has the facility to store essential medication that pupils may need access to during the school day. All medication is recorded electronically on Medical Tracker. Parents/carers will be notified of all administered medication and will receive any expired medication alerts via email.
PRESCRIBED: It is school policy to only administer prescribed medicines (e.g. antibiotics) if it is essential that they are given during the school day. If your child requires prescription medication parent/carers should complete a Medication Consent Form detailing the dosage requirements and the expected duration of the course of medication. This form should be handed into reception with the required medication. Please ensure that medication is in its original container as dispensed from the pharmacist.
Pupils should be made aware of the time they need to take their medication. If the pupil is in lesson, they will be able to request their medication via their teacher, who will arrange for the Lead First Aider to bring them their required dose. Please note that the school staff are unable to remind pupils to take their medication.
NON-PRESCRIBED: Non-prescribed medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be stored in the First Aid Room if it is deemed medically necessary for the pupil to have access to it during the school day. A Medication Consent Form can be requested from the school. This form must be completed by a parent/carer and handed in to the school reception with the required medication.
Non-prescribed medications are not administered prior to 12:00. In urgent cases where a pupil requests medication before this time, school staff may contact parent/carers to seek verbal permission over the phone.
PLEASE NOTE: Pupils are not allowed to carry medication around the school site with them, with the exception of emergency medication such as EpiPens and inhalers. For these pupils we ask parents/carers to provide the medical room with a spare inhaler or EpiPen for use in an emergency. It is a parental responsibility to ensure these are kept in date.
EPIPEN USERS
Epipens must be kept in the pupil’s blazer pocket and a spare pen must be held in the First Aid Room along with a completed Medication Consent Form. The school regularly audits medications and will contact parents to notify them of any expired medications. It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure both Epipens are in date.
INHALERS
Pupils with asthma are responsible for their own inhaler and must carry their inhaler with them at all times during the school day. A spare inhaler in its original prescribed box can be kept in the First Aid Room for pupils with severe asthma, and an Individual Healthcare Plan will be completed. A consent form completed by parents/carers is also required. The school regularly audits medications and will contact parents to notify them of any expired medications. It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure both inhalers are in date.
BECOMING UNWELL AT SCHOOL
If your child becomes unwell during the school day school staff are able to refer a pupil to the First Aid Room for assistance. All first aid support is documented on Medical Tracker and, if an injury or illness is deemed significant, parents will be notified via email of the occurrence. If the school decides a pupil should go home, a parent, guardian or nominated carer must collect them from the school reception and sign them out. It is a parental responsibility to collect an unwell pupil promptly if they are deemed unfit to remain in school. It is therefore important that the school is informed of all changes to telephone numbers as well as any other changes in circumstances as soon as possible, to enable us to contact parents/carers quickly in the event of an emergency.
DIARRHOEA & VOMITING – STAY AT HOME FOR 48 HOURS FROM LAST EPISODE
As per NHS guidance, should your child have an episode of diarrhoea or vomiting they should stay at home until at least 48 hours after the last episode to prevent spreading any infection to others.
RISK ASSESSMENTS
For pupils who come to school whilst injured we are duty bound to carry out a risk assessment – this includes children who need to attend school on crutches. This risk assessment is to ensure that it is safe for your child to attend school, and to make any specific arrangements or adjustments which need to take place to help them access lessons.
Parents/carers should complete the initial risk assessment form before their child returns to school. The link for this form can be found below. Once the form has been submitted, it will be reviewed by the Lead First Aider or the Health & Safety Manager to see if measures can reasonably be put in place in order for them to safely return to school. Any agreed measures or adjustments to the school day will be communicated to the pupil’s teachers along with a date of expected recovery. After the date of expected recovery, the risk assessment will be closed. The parent/carer is responsible for updating the risk assessment or requesting an extension should their child’s condition change.
If a pupil is unable to walk unaided it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to contact the school via phone or in person prior to their return to school, as a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) may be required. The Health and Safety Manager is able to implement this for the pupil.
In the unlikely event that it is deemed unsafe for your child to be at school, parents/carers may be contacted to take the pupil home until it is safe for them to return. Regrettably, if you send your child to school with an injury without competing an Initial Risk Assessment Form you may also be contacted to come and collect your child until a risk assessment is put in place.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to safety risks pupils will not be permitted to wear open-toe or open-backed shoes (such as sliders). If a pupil wears such shoes, the parent/carer will be asked to collect their child or bring in alternative shoes.
Risk Assessment Form Link: https://forms.office.com/e/mK6nWsxFVa