Principles of First Aid in Education and Childcare Services

First aid-first response

Young children and students with communication difficulties are sometimes unable or unwilling to describe the onset of illness or the nature of injury and pain. This means that education and childcare workers need to be observant and actively enquire about the well-being of children and students as part of their standard first aid procedure.

Anyone can and should provide an initial, first aid response in the following manner:

• Ensure the safety of yourself and others
• Be alert to dangers at the scene.
• Call for help

Do not hesitate to call the Emergency Services if you believe that it is in the best interest of the casualty to do so.

Call ambulance

• To call ambulance: Dial out, then 000 or mobile 112.
• Say what state you are calling from, the person's condition and their location.

Inform emergency contacts

Communicate

• Reassure the casualty and bystanders.
• Get information and provide necessary information to emergency personnel when they arrive.

Organise bystanders to:

• Call emergency services
• Direct the ambulance to the scene
• Help other bystanders
• Bring first aid supplies and blankets
• Protect the scene from unnecessary traffic and other dangers

Deciding when to call for medical assistance

First aid is exactly what its name implies - a first level of assistance. Further medical assistance should be sought if the first aider determines it is needed. Seeking medical assistance can involve calling for an ambulance. In a less urgent circumstance, it can mean informing the child's emergency contacts that the first aider's training indicates that advice from a medical practitioner is advisable.

Assessing the need for further assistance is sometimes difficult. The following information can be used:

History of the event

When casualties have been subjected to great violence, as in car crashes or falls from heights, it can be assumed that they are critically injured until proved otherwise. The same can be said regarding casualties who have been exposed to fire or explosions, electrical injury, chemical injury or where poisoning is suspected. In all of these cases, it is reasonable to call for the help of ambulance personnel.

Medical history of the casualty

When a child or student has a known medical condition, the service should have on site a health support plan. This should include guidelines about when the individual requires more than a standard first aid response.

Symptoms

If pain is severe and persistent, or if there is persistent shortness of breath at rest, which is unrelieved by the usual measures undertaken by the casualty, it is reasonable to call for ambulance assistance.

Signs

Generally, it is reasonable to call for help for any casualty who:

• Has experienced unconsciousness or who has an altered conscious state
• Is experiencing difficulty breathing
• Is showing signs of shock
• Is experiencing severe bleeding, or who is vomiting blood or passing blood
• Has slurred speech
• Has injuries to the head, neck or back
• Could have broken bones