First Aid in Education and Care Settings

11 July 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

First aid emergencies can happen everywhere and the education and care settings are not the exception. As a teacher, childcare worker‚ or support staff you may be faced with a first aid emergency and having the knowledge and tools to respond appropriately will help you to be prepared.

So, let’s learn how you can protect children from harm and maximize their opportunities for growth and learn.

What are the most common accidents in education and care settings?

Common work-related hazards and risks in early childhood education and care are:

lifting, carrying children or objects
falls due to stumbling on kids toys
working at low levels; such as on the floor or on children’s furniture
communicable diseases

All workplaces have a duties to maintain a working environment that is safe and free of risks to health. Also, there are some things you could do to prevent injuries at work, like:

Keep a tidy work environment free of loose objects on the floor
Use equipment properly, for example use a stable ladder to put artwork up
Follow manual handling procedures when you bend, twist or reach objects
Sanitize toys daily to prevent the growth of viruses and bacteria that can cause illnesses and odours.
Have an appropriated Childcare or School First Aid Kit ready to be used
Have at least one staff member with up-to-date CPR and first aid training present at all times in case of emergency.

If we now shift the focus to children, here are the most common childhood injuries:

bumps from falls, such as tripping when running or falling from a bike
burns, caused by hot water, fire or exposure to sun
poisoning from touching, swallowing or breathing in harmful substances such as medicines, glue or cleaning products
drowning

Also, there are some injuries that are related to the child’s age. For example, toddlers are most susceptible to choking and poisoning , preschoolers to drowning and burns or scalds, and school-aged children to pedestrian accidents.

Indoor and Outdoor Childcare and School Safety Tips

The majority of these injuries are preventable. So, here are some recommendations to reduce risks of accidents in children under your care.

Indoor Safety

Set up a safe space where children can explore and play safely. Some things to keep in mind:

Remove sharp or breakable items out of children’s reach
Cleaning products, medications, and other poisons should be in a locked closet or cabinet
If you care for children under three years of age, make sure to pack away small toys that could be a choking hazard. Also, teach and enforce mouth safety for young children, drawing a clear distinction that non-food objects shouldn’t be put in mouths.
Inspect the safety of toys: make sure there are no broken or loose pieces or rough edges
If the space has a staircase, check doors, gates, or other barriers to prevent children from falling down
Furniture Safety: check that shelves and other tall pieces of furniture anchored to the wall to prevent tipping. Cover sharp edges and corners of furniture

Do a safety check every morning to ensure the classroom or play area is safe

Also, use Safety as a topic and opportunity to teach children about safe use of toys, tools and equipment such as: safe scissor use, proper use of riding toys and toys not hurled or used as weapons.

Outdoor Safety

Playing outside is an important aspect of children wellbeing. Many school accidents leading to child injuries happen on the playground during recess. The majority of these accidents are caused by lack of proper adult supervision, poorly maintained playground equipment, and/or faulty or broken playground equipment.

Here are some guidelines to keep the outdoor play areas safe:

Allow children to use playground equipment that is appropriated for their age. For example, infants and toddlers have greater risk of falls on high platforms and tall slides
Playground surfacing should be soft and resilient to cushion falls. Sand, pea gravel, wood chips/mulch, rubberized surfaces are safe surfaces for playgrounds
Establish some play rules, like safe distance from moving swings, number of kids per equipment, watch out for others when riding tricycles, etc.

Water Safety

Drowning is one of the biggest causes of death for Australian children under the age of four years.

Here are golden rules for Water Safety:

Children must be supervised at all times while in a pool or around
Safe barriers, save lives: ensure gates and doors that lead into a pool are are self closing and self latching
Learn CPR so you can act in case of an emergency

How to treat a First Aid Emergency at School?

To respond accordingly to a First Aid Emergency you need to identify the severity of the situation and know the procedures and tools that will assist you in helping and injured colleague or child.

Here are 6 general steps on the administration of emergency assistance to individuals prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel.

When confronted with an emergency, it is important that you remain calm and communicate a supportive attitude to the child
Never leave an ill or injured person unattended. Have someone else call 000 and the parent
Call 000 immediately for: anaphylactic reactions, severe bleeding, breathing difficulty, broken bones, burns, poisoning, choking, seizure, unconsciousness
Do not move the child or allow them to walk, bring help and supplies to the individual
Ask other staff or responsible adults to clear the area of children who may congregate following an injury
Do not use treatment methods beyond your skill level or your scope of practice. When in doubt, call 000 and ask them to guide you through what needs to be done

First Aid Kits for Childcare, School and Education Settings

To help a child or a colleague in an emergency you will need to have the right tools. Choosing a First Aid Kit that complies with ACECQA first aid requirements for an education setting is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Follow the table below and you will find the perfect First Aid Kit for your childcare or school.

Choosing a First Aid Kit that complies with ACECQA first aid requirements for an education setting is as easy as 1, 2, 3

Buy an Education and Care Industry First Aid Kit Now!

Help Kids Build Confidence if Faced with a First Aid Emergency

Data shows kids who try to help during a First Aid Emergency bounce back better than those who do not know what to do if faced with the same traumatic situation.

Consider offering your kids a course like Heartbeat Heroes which arms kids basic training in what to do if faced with a first aid emergence.