First Aid & Medical
The contents of a School First Aid Kit depend on the type and size of the kit itself and the school environment it’s to be used in. Even the most basic School First Aid Kit contains essentials for an emergency, including a resuscitation mask, adhesive dressings, sterile pads, disposable gloves, antiseptic and eye care.
Schools must maintain at least one major School First Aid Kit in the sick bay, plus portable School First Aid Kits for excursions and yard duty. Government policy and guidelines stipulate that schools have appropriate first aid equipment to enable health support. Principals, teachers and school nurses must be familiar with the school’s first aid procedures, and observe their duty of care to students by providing first aid treatment within the limits of their skill, expertise, training and responsibilities.
What should you consider for you school?
- equipment for your first aid room
- a life saving defibrillator
- fire safety supplies, fire blankets, and appropriate fire extinguishers
- additional first aid kits
- personal protective equipment
- posters
- emergency signs
- health and safety supplies
Should your school have a defibrillator?
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, including children, and the first few minutes are vital. Having a defibrillator on site that can be accessed quickly can drastically improve the chance of survival.
Defibrillators are easy to use, with voice and visual prompts to guide you through what to do. You do not need to be trained to use one, but we recommend that school employees take a defibrillator training course to ensure they can use the device quickly and confidently in an emergency.
Defibrillators can be used safely on children over the age of eight. For children aged between one and eight, you will need separate paediatric defibrillator pads or a separate paediatric defibrillator, unless your defibrillator has a special paediatric casualty function.
