First Aid, Incidents and Near- Miss Policy

Transcription

1 First Aid, Incidents and Near- Miss Policy All terms in italics are defined terms as set out in the ESOC Handbook. Section 1: Overview 1.1 Key details Policy prepared by: Paul Barber Approved by: Chris Brickel Approved on: 06/01/2016 Policy start date: 01/01/2016 Last amended: 31/12/2015 Review date: 31/12/ Medical Information 2.1 Customers 2.2 Staff 3.0 Training and Use 3.1 Training During the booking process all customers must fill in their/ or their child s medical information. Before any Expedition led by ESOC Ltd greater than one day the Expedition Leader must call all guardians or school liaison(s) and will verbally confirm the medical information received. For international trips customers must fill in a pre- expedition medical questionnaire signed off by their GP. All Employees and Freelancers must complete a health questionnaire annually and inform the HR Manager in the Stratford Office of any medical changes that occur between questionnaires. All ESOC Employees and Freelancers should hold a valid first aid certificate from a minimum of a 8 hour course, issued by an organisation approved by The Exploration Society. First Aid will only be administered by those who are first aid trained except in emergencies. 3.2 Use Employees and Freelancers are expected to use their best endeavours at all times, particularly in emergencies, to secure the welfare of a casualty. In general, the consequences of taking no action are likely to be more serious than those of trying to assist in an emergency. ESOC Ltd will always support those who provide first aid in good faith and in line with the training they have undergone. Page 1 of 9

2 4.0 Kits 3.3 Infection Control Basic hygiene procedures must be followed by any one providing first aid. Always wear single- use disposable gloves when treating any accidents/ incidents which involve bodily fluids. Make sure any contaminated waste (gloves, wipes, pads, paper towels etc.) are placed in a disposable bag and fastened securely. Any children s clothes which may be contaminated should be placed in a plastic bag and fastened securely ready to take home or disposed of safely. 4.1 Provision and Range of Kits All first aid trained staff may be provided with a first aid kit. The decision as to the number and type of kits to provide to staff must be decided by the expedition leader with advice from those with advanced first aid training when necessary. ESOC Ltd will maintain four types of first aid kit. 1. Basic First Aid kits are intended to be carried by most ESOC Employees and Freelancers so they can deal with minor injuries and provide a basic response to life threating injuries. 2. Group leader first aid kits are intended be carried by most ESOC Employees and Freelancers if they are leading a session. They are there to support the basic first aid kits and provide a more advance response to minor and life threatening injuries. 3. Expedition Leader First Aid Kits, these are intended to be carried by Expedition Leaders. This contains the contents of a Basic First Aid Kit plus equipment to deal with a wide range of potential medical problems and a response to life threatening injuries until an Ambulance can arrive in the UK. There must be one of these on each overnight event in the UK or EU. 4. International First Aid Kit, these are intended to be carried on international (outside the EU) and offshore expeditions. The contents and number of these kits carried will vary significantly depending on the Expedition being undertaken. A full assessment of what to include should be done by an individual with appropriate First Aid training to destination. Page 2 of 9

3 4.2 Contents of Basic First Aid Kit Immediate stabilisation Item Details Number Bandage OR sterile dressing Crepe OR sterile 1 Assorted Sterile Plasters Fabric 5 Gauze swabs 2 Disposal Bag For medical waste 1 Antiseptic Wipes Non alcoholic wipes 4 Sterile Disposable Gloves Vinyl gloves 2 Pairs Eye Wash Sterile water pods 1 Non- adhesive wound pad Medium 2 Surgical tape Zinc oxide or Micropore 1 CPR Face Shield Contents of Group Leader kit Item Details Number Sterile disposable gloves Vinyl gloves 5 pairs Assorted Sterile Plasters Fabric 20 Wound Dressing Medium 3 Wound Dressing Large 3 Medicated dressing Vaseline/Iodine 2 Gauze swab 4 Crepe bandage 1 Eye wash Sterile water pods 2 Antiseptic wipes Non alcoholic 10 Surgical tape Zinc oxide or Micropore 1 Page 3 of 9

4 Non- adhesive wound pad Medium 2 Wound closure strips Steri - strips 1 pack Scissors Blunt 1 pair Triangular Bandage 2 Sanitary towels 2 Burn plasters 6 Tick remover 1 Tweezers 1 Blister plasters Compede 1 pack Cold pack Disposable 1 Burn Gel 1 tube CPR Face shield 1 Disposable bag For medical waste 2 Page 4 of 9

5 4.4 Contents of Expedition Leader First Aid Kit Item Details Number Wound Dressing Large 4 Wound Dressing Medium 5 Crepe Bandages 2 Non- adhesive wound pad Medium 20 Non- adhesive wound pad Large 5 Medicated dressing Vaseline/Iodine 4 Gauze Swabs 20 Assorted sterile Plasters Fabric 50 Wound Closure strips Steri strips 2 packets Triangular bandage 2 Surgical tape Zinc Oxide or Micropore tape 5 CPR Face Shield 1 Antiseptic wipes Non alcoholic 40 Tweezers Small 1 Tick remover 1 Scissors Blunt 1 Sanitary Towels 2 Disposal Bag For Medical Waste 5 Sterile disposable gloves Vinyl gloves 20 Pairs Eye Wash Water pods 8 Blister plasters Compede 1 pack Cold pack Disposable 1 Burn gel 1 tube Burn plasters 10 Page 5 of 9

6 Medications Ibuprofen 1 pack Sore throat tablets Strepsils 1 pack Paracetamol (Child friendly) Calpol 1 bottle or Capsules Anti- histamine Piriton 1 pack Paracetomol 1 pack Page 6 of 9

7 The Expedition Leader kit should contain sufficient additional supplies to be able to restock the Basic Immediate Stabilisation First Aid Kits. The amount required will depend on the duration and size of the expedition as well as the activities to be undertaken. The amounts in the Expedition Leader kit contain the numbers for the kit in itself and the resupply numbers below: Resupply Item Details Number Wound Dressing Medium 3 Assorted Sterile Plasters Fabric 50 Wound Closure Strips Steri strips 4 packets Triangular Bandage 4 Disposal Bag For medical waste 10 Non- alcoholic Wipes 40 Face Shield Face shield 2 Sterile Disposable Gloves Non- Latex 20 Pairs Eye Wash Sterile water pods 10 Gauze Swabs 20 Non- adhesive wound pad Medium 20 Surgical Tape Zinc Oxide or 5 Micropore 4.5 Use 5.0 Medication First aid kits will be provided to Expedition Leaders and they are responsible for checking their contents. First Aid kits may be used as required. Any items used must be reported to the Expedition Leader who must then inform the Stratford Office upon return to the stores It is the responsibility of the Employees at the Stratford Office to maintain the first aid kits. They must regularly check: 5.1 Prescribed Medicine For wear and tear. Waterproofing of the kits. All items are in date. Kits are fully stocked. Items reported used are replaced. Prescribed medicine e.g. antibiotics to children only at the request of a person with parental responsibility for the child, with written permission and precise instructions as to dosage. All medicines must be clearly labelled with the child s name and dosage required and handed to the leader by the parent/carer. Where possible the medicine should be self- administered under the supervision of the leader. Page 7 of 9

8 6.0 Overseas 5.2 Medication for Chronic Illness Children who require emergency medication on a long term basis because of the chronic nature of their illness e.g. inhalers and epipens, should carry one on their person and bring an additional one which must be given to the Expedition Leader. Dates of medication should be checked by the Expedition Leader. Any out of date medication must be replaced before the Expedition. Specific guidance on the nature of the likely emergency and how to cope with it while awaiting paramedical assistance should also be provided. Those who are First Aid Trained may administer an Epipen if they are dealing with a life- threatening anaphylactic casualty, and aspirin can be given to a casualty with a suspected heart attack in accordance with currently accepted first- aid practice. 5.3 Other Medication Non- prescribed/ over the counter medication will be administered by leaders in loco parentis when the signs and symptoms dictate e.g. a mild analgesic such as Paracetamol to relieve pain. In such cases leaders will check the time and amount of any medicine previously administered, and inform the parents to avoid the danger of giving too much. Parents give permission for this eventuality on the Declaration. Before plasters are used leaders should establish whether the person requiring treatment has such an allergy when an alternative dressing should be used. ESOC leaders are able to administer medications when they have completed a Far From Help medical course, a equivalent or higher qualification as deemed appropriate by the chief instructor. On an overseas expedition a comprehensive group first aid kit is carried by the leader who has attended a Far From Help course run by Wilderness Medical Training or equivalent. The contents and protocols for administering have been compiled from the Far From Help Manual. Prescription drugs are available in the first aid kit, the first aider should be aware of the following key recommendations: Prescription drugs should be clearly marked as such. Prescription drugs should only be administered to a patient under the remote guidance of a doctor. The Expedition medic should read the label and package insert, and explain any key points to the patient. The first aider should record the name of the patient, the date, time, and the drug and dose taken. The first aider should ensure that the patient adheres diligently to the stated dosing regime. They may aid a minor to take prescription medication prescribed to them. Page 8 of 9

9 7.0 Reporting Any accident or near miss, collectively called incidents, must be recorded regardless of the need for first aid. This recording should be done in the Accident Book. There will always be one in the Stratford Office and in each expedition leader pack. Where there is a reasonable chance of the incident impacting the person after the end of the Expedition they must be informed what further help they may wish to seek. Normally this would be there GP. For children those under 18 this information should be passed on to their guardian or teacher as appropriate. 7.1 First Aid All first aid given must be recorded on an incident form. This should then be held in the office. This should be filled in as soon as possible, preferably at the time of giving first aid. If the accident book is not to hand the details should be recorded and then transferred to the accident form when possible. The initial record should also be attached to the accident book. It is the responsibility of the Expedition Leader to ensure accident forms are filled in and any used are returned to the Stratford Office. They must then be stored securely for a period of 10 years. 7.2 Head Injuries 7.3 RIDDOR Any person suffering a head injury no matter how small must be checked by the most qualified first aider with the individual. Any unconsciousness is cause for immediate hospitalisation. If they do not show any major symptoms they should be monitored for at least 48 hours. The frequency of this monitoring must be proportional to the injury. If they are returned to parents or guardians within 48 hours the Expedition Leader must contact their guardian via e- mail. They should also verbally inform the guardians. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) some accidents involving employees or self- employed people working for ESOC must be reported to the HSE: A serious /fatal incident. An accident where the person is taken to hospital from the scene of the accident. An accident which results in the person being unable to carry out their normal job for more than three consecutive days. The person suffering from a specified disease associated with their current job. A dangerous occurrence i.e. a building collapse, a scaffolding collapse. Page 9 of 9