Safety At School

Jan 19, 2022

Accidents are unpredictable but having an Occupational Health and Safety First Aid Kit on hand treats and stabilises traumatic injuries while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Schools are directly responsible for providing an environment conducive to the delivery of quality teaching and learning by, among other things, promoting the rights and safety of all learners, teachers and parents.
Keeping schools safe allows children to look forward to being in an encouraging environment that promotes social and creative learning. When their basic safety needs aren’t met, children are at risk for not feeling comfortable at school and may stop showing up, or they may remain on edge throughout the day. Promoting school safety creates an open space for kids to explore, learn and grow.
Preparing for injuries is a top priority. From playground scrapes to more severe injuries, first aid supplies for all types of emergency situations must be available. Because injury response time is so important in schools, a common challenge with school first aid is kit placement. Take the time to understand your school’s unique environment and always prioritise the safety of both children and staff.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID IN SCHOOLS

The provision of first aiders, first aid kits, and information involved with first aid is proven to provide the following benefits in schools:

  • First aid in schools increases awareness and improves a sense of safety, allowing staff and pupils to have a fundamental understanding of hazards and risks, and how to deal with them.
  • It allows for the prompt response and quick treatment when it is a minor injury that can easily be treated.
  • First aid in schools prevents the situation from worsening. First aid is a temporary and immediate treatment that prevents the individual from injuring themselves further or getting more ill.
  • It helps to preserve life because first aiders can handle emergencies calmly and efficiently.
  • It helps staff, parents, visitors, and students feel more secure in knowing that there are trained first aiders who can treat injuries and illnesses.
School Nurse

Being prepared and ready means supplies are close at hand

First aid supplies should be close by and available for use in any situation. A locked storage room is not a good place to keep supplies. It relies on someone having a key to access the supplies. First aid situations are time sensitive and fast response times are critical.  The American Red Cross suggest that “every classroom should have some supplies”.  Keeping basic first aid supplies for minor cuts and scrapes in every classroom is a good choice.

If a school chooses not to provide basic first aid supplies in the classroom, we suggest designating a specific place where students are sent to be treated. This location can also serve as a launching point for emergency situations. If a designated first aid room is used, additional supplies should also be strategically located throughout the school so students and staff are always in near proximity to supplies for quick response times.

Designated responders should have supplies ready

All good emergency response plans include designated locations, supplies and responders. These first responders may include teachers, nurses or administrators. The type of kit and supplies used by each of these responders is based on their role and experience. For example, a school nurse may have diagnostic equipment, inhalers or epinephrine auto-injectors in their emergency kit while a basic first responder may have bandages, gauze, pressure dressings and CPR masks in their supplies.

Communicate and mark where supplies are kept

Knowing where first aid supplies are stocked at your school means a good communication plan is vital.  People need to know in advance where they can expect to find first aid supplies when a situation arises.  Not only is a plan required but training and communicating are critical. A plan is only good when people know about it and understand their role. First aid locations should be marked for everyone to see. Practice the plan at scheduled emergency training exercises to ensure it works and the administrator, teacher and student is prepared.

first aid kit

First Aid Policy

Every school in South Africa should have a first aid policy in place to provide guidelines and specifications relating to emergency care in the specific school. This first aid policy should be developed around some of the following premises:

  • That the school will implement the necessary measures to ensure that the personal and physical wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors is protected as far as reasonably practicable.
  • The school should implement a program where staff, students, and learner volunteers can receive basic first aid training.
  • The school can subject every learner, staff member, and visitor to the basic requirement that they participate in creating and maintaining a safe environment.
  • Whenever there are any functions, events, or activities held by the school appropriate emergency care facilities will be available appropriate to the event, or activity that takes place.
  • If low-level illness or injuries occur on the premises of the school the appropriate first-tier first aid will be provided.

The first-aid policy of schools in South Africa must be according to:

  • General Safety Regulation 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act 85 of 1993). Regulation 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) provide guidelines regarding the number of first-aid boxes that should be available
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 and the General Safety Regulations and Hazardous Biological Agents Regulations
  • The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA)
  • The School’s HIV and Aids policies
  • The overall Code of Conduct of the school

In any school framework, responsible personnel include:

  • The Principal
  • The Safety Officer
  • First Aider

THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL

As the head of the school, the principal is considered the employer in the school framework. This means that they are responsible for the health and safety of staff, learners, and any visitors to the school premises.

The responsibilities that the Principle has includes:

  • Ensuring that a risk assessment is carried out on the school and all related activities
  • That the necessary legal appointments are done
  • That training and resources for first aid is current and appropriate
  • Arrangements for full coverage for claims from actions of staff within their employment scope

SAFETY OFFICER

The safety officer must implement the first aid policy and develop detailed procedures according to the activities and their associated risk ratings. The safety officer must ensure that the policy is drafted, implemented, and that information on the arrangement of the school surrounding first aid is available to students and parents.

FIRST AID OFFICER

A first aid officer must be appointed at the start of every school year, and it must be considered a voluntary post. The person who is appointed must be a first aid certified individual and will be responsible for:

  • The maintenance on first aid equipment such as restocking the first aid kit
  • Ensure that emergency services are called during an emergency
  • Provide immediate assistance to staff, visitors, and pupils who sustain common injuries or illnesses
  • Appointing a first-aid team from the learner body and ensuring that they are provided with the appropriate first aid training
  • Organise the first-aid team when there are events, functions, and activities

 

OHS First Aid Kits

Contact us for all your OHS First Aid Kits 011 440 5171, info@levtrade.co.za

See the Levtrade OHS First Aid Kit ranges

 

 

Resource: https://www.mfasco.com/blog/health-topics/where-should-a-school-keep-their-first-aid-supplies.html, https://www.makrosafe.co.za/blog/First-Aid-In-Schools

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