Girls in Sports are committed to providing emergency first aid provision in order to deal with accidents and incidents affecting young people, program staff and visitors.
We have suitably stocked first aid boxes, which will be checked before any physical activity to make sure they are fully stocked. Travel first aid kits will be made and must be taken on all visits that we may have with the young people, including local breaks to the park as well.
Emergency procedure in the event of an accident, illness or injury
If an accident, illness or injury occurs within the program or during program hours, the program leader in charge will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate next course of action, which may involve calling immediately for an ambulance or calling for a first aider. If summoned, a first aider will assess the situation and take charge of first aid administration.
Ambulances
The first aider/appointed person is to always call an ambulance on the following occasions:
If an ambulance is called, then the first aider in charge should make arrangements for the ambulance to have access to the injured person. Arrangements should be made to ensure that any young person is accompanied in an ambulance by a program leader until one of the parents or carers is present.
Managing bodily fluids
Qualified program staff administering first aid should wear disposable gloves where bodily fluids are involved. Any dressings or materials which have been in contact with bodily fluids (such as blood or vomit) must be disposed of in the designated bin. Bodily fluids spilt should be cleaned up and bleached or disinfected. If the spillage is significant, young people and program staff should be removed from the area (where necessary) so the fluid can be cleaned up professionally using the appropriate cleaning materials. Parents and carers will be notified as soon as practicable, for more information see the section below.
Accident reporting
All accidents, administration of first aid and/or medicine will be recorded in the Accident Report Book (one for young people, one for program staff).
Reporting to families
In the event of accident or injury to a young person at least one of the young person’s parents or carers must be informed as soon as practicable. In the event of a minor injury requiring first aid, a first aid notification letter will be filled out by the first aider who administered the first aid. This will be sent home to parents/carers at the end of the program day. It will usually be followed up by a phone call home, if it is deemed appropriate and/or necessary.
Accidents involving program staff:
Records of medication given to young people will be kept and program leaders will sign a record each time medicine is administered.
Confidentiality
All medical information is treated confidentially and access to this information will be provided on a ‘need-to-know’ basis in consultation with the parent/carer and young person, without compromising the young person’s health, dignity and well-being
However, supporting a young person with a medical condition during program hours is not the sole responsibility of one person. Girls in Sports works in partnership with young people and parents/carers to ensure that we provide effective support to all young people with medical conditions.
Procedure following notification that a pupil has a medical condition
Program Staff training and support
Every member of program staff providing support to a young person with medical needs should receive suitable training. This may be provided by an external training provider.
Training needs should be identified by the relevant healthcare professional during the development of the Individual Healthcare Plan. They will identify which program staff require training, and the type of training needed.
The program should arrange any necessary training and ensure that training remains up to date. At times, whole program staff awareness training may be necessary in order to ensure that all program staff are aware of their role in supporting specific young people with medical conditions.
We have suitably stocked first aid boxes, which will be checked before any physical activity to make sure they are fully stocked. Travel first aid kits will be made and must be taken on all visits that we may have with the young people, including local breaks to the park as well.
- All program staff will consider the appropriateness of any first aid treatment, for example allergies such as latex and plasters.
- We will have all suitably detailed risk assessments for all young people and for specific activities within the program
- Our first aid and emergency procedure will be clear and shared.
- All first aid should be administered and dealt with, as far as practicably possible, in the designated first aid area.
- All program staff working within Girls in sport know that when in doubt, calling 999 is the most appropriate and safe course of action
Emergency procedure in the event of an accident, illness or injury
If an accident, illness or injury occurs within the program or during program hours, the program leader in charge will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate next course of action, which may involve calling immediately for an ambulance or calling for a first aider. If summoned, a first aider will assess the situation and take charge of first aid administration.
Ambulances
The first aider/appointed person is to always call an ambulance on the following occasions:
- In the event of a serious injury and/or any significant head injury
- In the event of a period of unconsciousness
- Whenever there is the possibility of a fracture or where this is suspected
- Whenever the first aider is unsure of the severity of the injuries
- Whenever the first aider is unsure of the correct treatment
- Where there are open wounds requiring further medical attention
If an ambulance is called, then the first aider in charge should make arrangements for the ambulance to have access to the injured person. Arrangements should be made to ensure that any young person is accompanied in an ambulance by a program leader until one of the parents or carers is present.
Managing bodily fluids
Qualified program staff administering first aid should wear disposable gloves where bodily fluids are involved. Any dressings or materials which have been in contact with bodily fluids (such as blood or vomit) must be disposed of in the designated bin. Bodily fluids spilt should be cleaned up and bleached or disinfected. If the spillage is significant, young people and program staff should be removed from the area (where necessary) so the fluid can be cleaned up professionally using the appropriate cleaning materials. Parents and carers will be notified as soon as practicable, for more information see the section below.
Accident reporting
All accidents, administration of first aid and/or medicine will be recorded in the Accident Report Book (one for young people, one for program staff).
Reporting to families
In the event of accident or injury to a young person at least one of the young person’s parents or carers must be informed as soon as practicable. In the event of a minor injury requiring first aid, a first aid notification letter will be filled out by the first aider who administered the first aid. This will be sent home to parents/carers at the end of the program day. It will usually be followed up by a phone call home, if it is deemed appropriate and/or necessary.
Accidents involving program staff:
- Work related accidents resulting in death or major injury (including as a result of physical violence) must be reported to the HSE immediately (major injury examples: dislocation of hip, knee or shoulder; amputation; loss of sight; fracture other than to fingers, toes or thumbs)
- Work related accidents which prevent the injured person from continuing with his/her normal work for more than three days must be reported within 10 days
- Certain cases of work-related disease - i.e. those that a doctor notifies the program of (for example: certain poisonings; lung diseases; infections such as tuberculosis or hepatitis; occupational cancer)
- Certain dangerous occurrences (i.e. near misses - reportable examples: bursting of closed pipes; electrical short circuit causing fire; accidental release of any substance that may cause injury to health)
- Recording
Records of medication given to young people will be kept and program leaders will sign a record each time medicine is administered.
Confidentiality
All medical information is treated confidentially and access to this information will be provided on a ‘need-to-know’ basis in consultation with the parent/carer and young person, without compromising the young person’s health, dignity and well-being
However, supporting a young person with a medical condition during program hours is not the sole responsibility of one person. Girls in Sports works in partnership with young people and parents/carers to ensure that we provide effective support to all young people with medical conditions.
Procedure following notification that a pupil has a medical condition
- The named young person will ensure that all relevant program staff are made aware of their diagnosis
- The named young person will seek further information from the relevant medical program staff working with them
- It is the responsibility of the parent to provide the program with any relevant medical information, and to notify the program of any changes to the young person’s health
- The named young person will ensure that an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) is written for them and any necessary arrangements are put in place.
Program Staff training and support
Every member of program staff providing support to a young person with medical needs should receive suitable training. This may be provided by an external training provider.
Training needs should be identified by the relevant healthcare professional during the development of the Individual Healthcare Plan. They will identify which program staff require training, and the type of training needed.
The program should arrange any necessary training and ensure that training remains up to date. At times, whole program staff awareness training may be necessary in order to ensure that all program staff are aware of their role in supporting specific young people with medical conditions.