1.3 Medication and First Aid

Contents

1. Designated Person
2. Medicines
3. Accident and Illness
4. First Aid
5. Children who are Ill with a Medical Condition

1. Designated Person

When children are registered at the Children's Centre parents should give written details of their child's dietary needs , allergies and medical conditions.   The Designated Person in the Children's Centre should ensure these details are known  to all relevant staff during day to day activities.  It is the parents responsibility to inform staff of any changes in their child's medication, allergies, dietary needs etc.   Staff should review the child's registration details are correct every 6 weeks.

Staff should consider whether a Risk Assessment is required to ensure the safety of the child and other children in the Children's Centre.  In consultation with parents it maybe necessary to draw up a Health Care Plan.   Staff may need to seek professional medical advice with this matter.

2. Medicines

The Children's Centre is aware that there maybe some children attending who require to have ongoing medication prescribed by a GP in general where a child requires medication (or treatment) they should be kept at home until the course of treatment is complete. 

Parents should normally administer medication to children, staff are not usually allowed to do so, except in exceptional circumstances with parental consent e.g. where a child suffers from asthma (or any other occasional ailment) and may need to use an inhaler.

Where equipment, such as an inhaler is necessary, the child will be encouraged to take personal responsibility for this item as soon as possible.

If a child who requires ongoing medication attends the centre and the medication has been prescribed by the child's doctor, the Manager will require written permission and specific instructions from the child's parent or carer as to how and when it should be given to the child.  The parent or carer will also need to demonstrate how it should be given.

The Manager should also establish whether any specific training is required or protective clothing or equipment for staff to be able to administer the medicine.

All medicines should be clearly labeled and if it is necessary to keep refrigerated should be separate from foodstuff.  The expiry date of the medication should be checked before administrating to the child.  The medicine should only be kept while the child is in attendance at the Children's Centre.

3. Accident and Illness

Relevant Procedure: Children's Centres Incidents Procedure

In the case of serious injury the following procedures should be followed:

• The Manager will assess the situation and decide whether the child needs to go immediately to hospital or whether the child can wait for the parent/carer to come.
• One staff member should stay with the injured child
• The Manager should telephone for an ambulance
• Parents/Carers should be informed and asked to attend immediately
• Should the ambulance arrive before the child's parent the staff member who has been looking after the child should accompany him/her in the ambulance taking with them the child's registration details, i.e. parent contact numbers, allergy information, medical consent, signature etc.

In the event that staff are unable to trace a parent it will be necessary to involve the Police to find the parent/carer.

ALL accidents should be reported in the Accident Book and serious accidents, i.e. those which necessitate investigation and/or treatment by a qualified medical practitioner should be notified to the Line Manager as the accident may be reportable under the Reporting of injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.  Parents should be asked to countersign the entry in the Accident Book.

In the case of a minor accident the following procedures should be followed:

At all times the staff must wear protective clothing (disposable aprons and gloves).

• The injury assessed by staff and if necessary the Manager is called
• The injury is then treated
• The child is then resettled back into the session
• The incident is then recorded in the accident book and if necessary an incident slip is written and given to the parent when they collect their child.
• Keeping a record of accidents will aid the staff to evaluate on a regular bases to check for patterns.

4. First Aid

The Manager must always ensure that there is at least one member of staff at every session who holds a current First Aid Certificate and all staff members should have a working knowledge of first aid.  A nominated First Aider should ensure that the first aid boxes are stocked at all times and replace as used.  A detailed list of items in the first aid box should be kept.  Staff should note items used so that the nominated First Aider can see what needs to be replaced.

Staff should record all first aid administration in the accident book.

The containers for first aid items should be clearly marked and stored in a clean, airtight container out of reach of the children.

5. Children who are Ill with a Medical Condition

The Children's Centre is  unable to care for children who are obviously sick or who have a raised temperature.  Should a child become ill during a session the parent/carer will be informed immediately.  Parents are asked to inform the Children's Centre if their child has been diagnosed with an infectious disease.  The Manager should  then advise the parents of the regulatory exclusion period.

In the case of children with medical conditions needing ongoing treatment, it will normally be possible for parents to administer medication themselves before and/or after the play sessions.  It is however, essential that parents give written permission if parents wish staff members to administer prescribed medication to a child in the Children's Centre, e.g. an inhaler/antibiotics.  The dosage and frequency of the medication to be given must comply with GP's instructions and the staff member must record when dosages are given e.g. in the accident book or child's file, which must then be countersigned by the parents on every occasion.

Where children are affected by a particular illness, staff members need to share such information, this will also be on 'need to know basis' only, unless parents/carers direct otherwise.

Any non-prescribed medicines will not be administered by any staff member.

End