Injury and First Aid Procedure

In this procedure, words in italic text are defined terms which have the specific meanings set out in Gowrie Victoria Policies and Procedures – Definitions and Abbreviations.

Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that:

• staff members have the first aid skills required to assess and treat injuries to children, staff members, volunteers, students on placement and contractors/labour hire employees at a service and when on excursions from the service
• the service is properly equipped with first aid kits
• services have an injury management plan
• services communicate effectively with the family of any child who is injured at a service or during an excursion
• all hygiene practices for blood spillages are followed
• all service records are made as required
• all reports to external authorities or agencies are made as required
• following an incident, the service reviews its responses and makes any improvements required to its procedures and practices

Scope

This procedure applies to all staff members except trainees, volunteers, students on placement and contractors/labour hire employees of Gowrie Victoria.

Procedure statement

Resources

Trained staff members

Each early years manager must ensure that all early years leaders and educators: (this exceeds the requirement in the National Regulations r136(1))

• have first aid qualifications approved by ACECQA which include the administration of CPR
• successfully complete first aid refresher training at least every three years
• successfully complete CPR refresher training at least annually

First Aid Kits

Each early years manager must ensure that:

• each room at the service has a first aid kit (National Regulations r89(1)(a))
• there are sufficient extra first aid kits, including portable kits, at the service to deal with any emergency situation (National Regulations r89(1)(a))
• advice or guidance is obtained from a reputable organisation to ensure that the contents of first aid kits meets the service’s likely needs (National Regulations r89(1)(b))
• all first aid kits are easily recognisable and readily accessible to adults (National Regulations r89(1)(c)) but are secure from children
• each first aid kit includes a list of its contents and the expiry date of each item in the kit
• all first aid kits are checked at least every three months for completeness and currency, and that all used or out-of-date items are replaced

Injury and trauma management plan

The early years manager must develop an injury and trauma management plan which sets out actions and responsibilities in the event of a serious injury or trauma at the service (National Regulations r85(a)(c)). The aim of the plan is to ensure the best possible treatment and care of an injured child or children, and the proper care of all other children.

The plan must include:

• a statement of the circumstances in which the plan will be put into operation, and how this will be notified to staff members
• the identity of the person(s) who will be responsible for directing how the incident is handled
• the identity of the person(s) who will provide immediate first aid and care to the injured child or children
• the place in the centre where an injured child or children will be taken, if they are able to be moved
• the identify of the person(s) with responsibility for the decision to call emergency services if required
• the places in the service or elsewhere where other children will be taken
• arrangements to supervise other children and care for them if they are traumatised or upset

The early years manager must ensure that all early years leaders and educators have read and understood the plan, and know their likely role(s) if the plan is put into operation.

Note that a separate emergency plan is required for an excursion.

Actions on a child being injured

Early years leaders and educators are responsible for (National Regulations r85(a)(c)):

• immediately informing the responsible person if there is an injury to a child or children, and whether the injury or injuries are serious
• moving other children away from the scene to another location
• carrying out an immediate assessment of the child and providing immediate aid and care
• if the injury is minor:
• treating the injury or injuries as required and providing care and comfort to the child or children involved
• if it would be in the best interests of the child, contacting the child’s family or other authorised person to collect the child from the service
• ensuring that children who are not injured are properly supervised and cared for at all times

Hygiene, cleaning and waste disposal

Blood contact

Early years leaders and educators must check whether any children or they have come into contact with someone else’s blood, and if so:

• wash blood off the skin with soap and water
• take of soiled clothing and place in a clearly labelled wet bag which is securely stored in a dedicated receptacle out of reach of children ready for collection by a child’s family each day

Blood spillages

Early years leaders and educators must:

• have a spill kit ready for use, comprising a bucket containing disposable gloves, paper towels, disposable cloths or sponges, detergent, disposable scraper and pan to scoop, and bleach
• clean any area affected by blood spillage by:
• wiping up the blood with a damp cloth or paper towel
• washing with detergent and warm water
• disinfecting with a freshly-made bleach solution, made up using the manufacturer’s recommended ratios with cold water
• wiping the area down and drying with a clean cloth
• place all materials used in the clean-up in a plastic bag and dispose of in a secure rubbish receptacle
• if a mop has been used, ensure this is cleaned and disinfected

Notices, reports and records

Notices and reports to families

The early years manager must ensure that the family of a child who is injured at the service is notified as soon as practicable and in any event within 24 hours (National Regulations r86)

Incident, injury, trauma and illness records

Following a child being injured at the service, the early years manager must ensure that a record of the injury is include in the child’s incident, injury, trauma and illness record as soon as practicable but not later than 24 hours after the injury or trauma occurs (National Regulations r87(3)).

Reports to DET

If a child’s injuries sustained at the service or on an excursion are a serious incident, the early years manager must ensure that a serious incident report is sent to the DET within 24 hours (National Law s174(2)(4), National Regulations r176(2)).

Review of incidents

Following an injury or trauma to a child, the early years manager, and the early years leaders and educators involved in the incident should discuss it and decide if any improvements are required to any service procedures or work practices, and if any additional training is required for staff members.

Authorisation

Approved by the Executive Manager, Early Learning

Name	Nicole Pilsworth
Signature
Date	6 September 2021

References