First Aid
Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare in the new childcare regulations deals with Health. It states the provider must promote the good health of children and take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action when they are ill. This standard deals with hygiene, animals, sandpits, food handling, premises, security, medicine, first aid, sick children and smoking. In this article we are going to deal with the issues surrounding medicine, first aid and sick children.
Medicines
The childminder does not administer any medicine or other treatment to children unless the parent has discussed its use and given prior written permission. If medicine is to be given, the childminder ensures that:
- medicines are stored in their original containers, clearly labeled and inaccessible to children;
- medicines are not usually administered unless they have been prescribed for that child by a doctor;
- a childminder caring for a child with a specific condition on a long term basis makes sure that they have a thorough understanding of the medical condition and the medication (if any) that they are required to administer;
- written records are kept of medicines administered to children and the parent signs the record book to acknowledge the entry;
- if the administration of any prescribed medication requires technical/medical knowledge then individual training is provided for the childminder from a qualified health professional. Training is specific to the individual child concerned.
- non-prescription medication eg pain and fever relief or teething gel may be administered with written consent where a health reason occurs.
The childminder should be informed of any medicine prescribed by the child’s doctor and be given written permission to administer the medicine if such administration is required. Written permission will be required each time medicine is administered. The NCMA produces an Accident/ Incident and Medication Record book, which is ideal for keeping accurate records.
First Aid
- There is a first aid box, with appropriate contents. For information on what to put in your first aid box visit our article, First Aid Kit.
- Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the placement, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
- A record is maintained, signed by a parent, of any accidents and first aid treatment. If these occur whilst the child is in the childminders care parents should be informed and an entry in the accident book completed which will require a signature. Where a child is delivered ‘damaged’ parents should notify the childminder and an entry made in the accident/incident book to be counter-signed by the parent. These records are a statutory requirement and are there to protect the children from any danger of abuse. They are open to inspection by your local Social Services Department or Ofsted.
- Registerd providers must notify Ofsted of serious injury, accident or death whilst in your care.
- At least one person with a Paediatric first aid certificate must accompany children
Sick Children
- The childminder has a policy about the exclusion of children who are ill or infectious which is discussed with parents. This includes a procedure for contacting parents or another adult designated by the parent if a child becomes ill whilst in the childminder's care. Parents should inform the childminder if their child has been ill within the last twenty four hours before a contracted period. Childminders do not normally undertake the care of a sick child. However, depending on circumstances: nature of illness, other children in their care etc., it may be possible. The decision whether or not to accept a sick child for care is the childminders. Under no circumstance can a child with a notifiable infectious disease be accepted because of the risk of infecting other children or childminder. Parents should inform their childminder of any symptoms of ill - health shown by their child. If the child becomes ill while in the childminders care, they will contact the parent and, according to the severity of the illness, may ask them to take the child home.
- Notifiable diseases should be notified to the health protection agency and Ofsted. For a chart of exclusion periods please click here.
- Providers must ensure that any animals on the premises are safe to be in the proximity of children and do not pose a health risk
