When an incident occurs, the action person (class teacher, supervising teacher, coach, SNA or any other member of staff) shall inform the office in the first instance.
The Principal and/or Deputy Principal should be informed immediately.
The First Aid Responder / Cardiac First Responder will then take charge of the casualty.
In ALL cases where a casualty has lost consciousness (is unconscious), the class teacher/staff member will immediately ring 999 or 112, summon an AMBULANCE.
If necessary, begin CPR and send a student to office for further assistance.
On coming across an incident where either a colleague or student has sustained an injury the following procedure applies;
● Observe the accident location and the status of the injured person;
● If there is a risk of further injury and the area cannot be made safe, move the injured person to safety if possible;
● Call for immediate assistance by contacting a First Aid Responder and / or emergency services depending on severity of accident;
● If an ambulance has been called, make sure that the exact location has been given;
● Fully inform the First Aid Responder of all details and contact the Principal/Centre Manager if not already informed.
The First Aid Responder (FAR) will take charge of the casualty.
He / She will conduct a preliminary assessment of injury/illness and treat in accordance with level of training.
Decide on the need for professional assistance.
The First Aid Responder will act in accordance with the General Principles of Care as laid down by PHECC in the ‘Clinical Practice Guidelines for First Aid Responders, pages 15 -16. 👇
Reference: First Aid Responder Clinical Practice Guidelines, pages 15 - 16. Please see HERE
The First Aid Responder will act in accordance with the General Principles of Care as laid down by PHECC in the ‘Clinical Practice Guidelines for First Aid Responders, pages 15 -16:
1. Ensure the safety of yourself, other emergency service personnel your patients and the public:
• Review all pre-arrival information.
• Consider all environmental factors and approach a scene only when it is safe to do so.
• Identify potential and actual hazards and take the necessary precautions.
• Liaise with other emergency services on scene.
• Request assistance as required in a timely fashion, particularly for higher clinical levels.
• Ensure the scene is as safe as is practicable.
• Take standard infection control precautions.
1.1 Ensure correct PPE is utilised in all situations and is compliant with latest guidance on standard, contact, droplet and airborne PPE. Place facemasks on patients when required. Handwashing and hand hygiene should be performed before and after all patient interactions. Utilise PPE checklists for correct donning and doffing procedures.
1.2 Complete a preliminary assessment, if possible, while continuing maintain social distancing (currently > 2 metres).
1.3 The preliminary assessment to involve the screening questions for COVID‐19:
· Do you have any new cough or new shortness of breath?
· Do you have a high temperature/ fever?
· Have you had contact with a confirmed COVID‐19 patient within the past 14 days?
If yes to any question regard the patient as suspect COVID‐19
If no to all questions regard the patient as low risk for COVID‐19
2. Call for help early:
• Ring 112/999 using the RED card process, or
• Obtain practitioner help on scene through pre-determined processes.
3. A person has capacity in respect to clinical decisions affecting themselves unless the contrary is shown (Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015).
4. Seek consent prior to initiating care:
• Patients have the right to determine what happens to them and their bodies.
• For patients presenting as P or U on the AVPU scale implied consent applies.
• Patients may refuse assessment, care and/or transport
5. Identify and manage life-threatening conditions:
• Locate all patients. If the number of patients is greater than resources, ensure additional resources are sought.
• Assess the patient’s condition appropriately.
• Prioritise and manage the immediate life-threatening conditions first.
• Provide a situation report to Ambulance Control Centre (112/999) using the RED card process as soon as possible after arrival on scene.
6. Ensure adequate Airway, Breathing and Circulation:
• Ensure airway is open.
• Commence CPR if breathing is not present.
• If the patient has abnormal work of breathing, ensure 112/999 is called early.
7. Control all external haemorrhage.
8. Identify the most important present condition and treat accordingly.
9. Place the patient in the appropriate position according to the presenting condition.
10. Ensure maintenance of normal body temperature (unless a CPG indicates otherwise).
11. Provide reassurance at all times.
12. Monitor and record patient’s vital observations.
13. Maintain responsibility for patient care until handover to an appropriate responder/ practitioner.
14. Complete a patient care record following an interaction with a patient.
15. Identify the clinical lead, this should be the most qualified responder on scene.
As and from 1st June 2018, the HSA only recognises Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council First Aid Response (PHECC FAR) as meeting the needs of Occupational First Aid in workplaces.
This is a foundation first aid course that trains course participants to provide first aid for a person who becomes suddenly unwell or injured until the arrival of emergency medical services. FAR includes the full Cardiac First Response Community standard also.
This means that learners who undergo training from 1st June 2018 must complete a PHECC FAR full or refresher course. However, any QQI OFA training which took place prior to 31st May 2018 will be recognised for the full 2-year duration from the date of training. The Safety Committee as part of its annual review shall consider the training needs for FAR staff.