Care of sick

Care of sick or injured students

SICKNESS:

THE PROCESS

1. Student becomes unwell - informs class or duty teacher who gives a note authorising admission to sick-bay, or, if appropriate, permission to go home. (All teachers should have a supply of the appropriate notes in their classroom kit.)
2. Student reports to office.
   1. If sickness is of a minor nature, name and time is recorded in the book - student is taken to sick-bay and made comfortable. If student has not recovered within the hour someone from the office checks on the patient - if recovered patient returns to class.
      
   2. If student is clearly too sick to be likely to be fit for class, or is still unwell after 1 hour, parent or caregiver will be phoned by office staff and arrangements made for student to go home or to the emergency address. If contact cannot be made, student returns to sick-bay - efforts to contact caregiver continue.
      
3. In an emergency situation, a senior staff member not teaching can be called to:
   1. assist with care of the student,or
      
   2. temporarily take over a class for Gr or Da if their expertise is needed, or
      
   3. if necessary, take the student to a doctor or the hospital.
      
4. The person doing attendance will check the Sick-bay book daily and ensure the appropriate code has been entered on the attendance register. Deans and form teachers should be aware of any student who is spending an unusual amount of time in sick-bay.
   

ROLE OF STUDENT HELPER

1. If a sick student needs support another student may accompany him or her to the office. If the student needs to go straight to the sick-bay (eg vomiting, bleeding, faint etc) the helper is the one who must report immediately to the office.
   
2. The helper should assist to settle the patient, (eg drink, hot water bottle, collect bag), then must return to class unless specifically asked to stay by a staff member to sit with a patient eg one who is/has been unconscious.
   

NOTE: A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO SICK-BAY MUST BE CHECKED OUT AGAIN AT THE OFFICE BEFORE RETURNING TO CLASS OR GOING HOME.

NO STUDENT SHOULD BE SENT HOME BEFORE A PARENT OR CAREGIVER AUTHORISES THIS AND/OR ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STUDENTS CARE.

In case of ACCIDENT involving injury to a STUDENT'S PERSON:

1. Look after the student: This could simply involve sending or assisting students to the office area for first aid treatment.
2. If a student is bleeding, give immediate first aid at the point of injury (there is first aid equipment in each block). Cover the wound to stop flow and spread of blood, then if appropriate arrange for patient to go to office area or sick bay. See also 3 below.
   

Remember:

1. Rubber gloves should be worn when treating injuries involving blood or other bodily secretions.
2. Once the patient has been dealt with ensure the blood etc is cleaned - household bleach powder, eg Vim to cover stain for 25 minutes before removal is attempted from floor areas.
3. If the injury is severe:
   1. cover the student to keep warm
      
   2. summon help (Mel Miles, Lynne Morell, Barry Dalkie, Diane Dencker, Jeff Smith)
      
   3. send a message to office to call ambulance and parent/caregiver. If there is a sibling in the school it could be appropriate to call him or her to help/give information.
      

Remember Also:

1. Any injury must be reported straight away to the parent or caregiver. Ask the office to do this and to continue trying until contact has been established
2. No student is to be sent to a doctor or to the hospital unaccompanied. If a parent cannot get here on time a staff member must accompany the student and remain in loco parentis until the parent does arrive.
3. If necessary contact the relief organiser to arrange emergency cover of accompanying teacher's class.
4. All cases involving assault should also be reported as soon as possible to a parent/caregiver even if the injury is not severe. This will usually be done by the Dean or HOL who clearly must be informed of such incidents
5. If an accident / incident involves damage to or theft of student property, this also should be reported to the Parent/Caregiver by the end of the day as a PR exercise. Ascertain if the article is covered by insurance. In some incidents we may need to make restitution.
6. ALL INJURIES TO STAFF OR STUDENTS MUST BE RECORDED IN THE "ACCIDENT RECORD" in the Main Office even if the injury does not appear severe at the time. This is necessary in case of any ACC claim now or late.