File: EBB

The West Springfield Public Schools attempt to provide a safe environment. If an accident or sudden illness occurs, school personnel will administer first aid and, if warranted, call 911 in an emergency.

First aid is defined as the immediate care given to an injured or ill person. Ill or injured students will be dismissed from school depending on the nature and extent of illness or injury per discretion of the nurse and parent/guardian if appropriate.

At each school, nurses operate under district nursing protocols and MA school health laws for proper handling of an ill or injured student. These will incorporate the following requirements:

1. The school nurse or another trained person will be responsible for administering first aid.

2. When the nature of an illness or an injury appears in any way serious, every effort will be made to contact the parent/guardian and/or family physician immediately.

3. No young child who is ill or injured will be sent home alone. Older children can be dismissed home alone for minor illness or injury per discretion of the nurse. Parent/guardian contact will be attempted prior to dismissal home.

4. In extreme emergencies, the school nurse, school physician or principal may make arrangements for immediate hospitalization of injured or ill students, contacting parent or guardian in advance if at all possible.

5. The teacher or other staff member to whom a-child is responsible at the time an accident occurs will make out an accident report. This will be required for every accident for which first aid is given.

6. For staff injuries, accident forms will be completed and sent to school department, and staff will be referred, if necessary, to the proper medical facility or own physician regarding treatment.

7. All accidents to students and staff members will be reported as soon as possible to the superintendent.

LEGAL REFS:     M.G.L. 71:55A; 71:56