Are all teachers trained in CPR/First Aid?

[Greenkit]

This was posted on Facebook www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jcPSqe-oxPM and I wondered how many teachers are trained in CPR/First Aid and if it is mandatory or voluntary?

Also how many UK schools have AED's?

Do you think each school should have one?

[SilverApples]

Most schools I know do a one day practical First/Emergency aid INSET that leaves you trained and with a certificate for three years.
We also get an epipen session a year, and asthma awareness training annually.
I'd like to have the Emergency Aid one annually as well.
When I have a child in class with a specific need, I've done additional training to cope with that.

[englishteacher78]

No. And at my school they're not keen on teaching staff training. They'd rather the non-teaching staff did.

[SilverApples]

You know, those INSET days that so many parents complain about and that were taken from teachers' holidays?
Those ones.

[SilverApples]

I'm in primary, Englishteacher. Are you?

[englishteacher78]

Nope, secondary.

[bumpybecky]

In our school (480 pupils years 5-8) there are about 10 first aiders, mostly support staff rather than teachers. In some ways it's best for support staff to be first aiders as we're not normally in sole charge of a class, so can deal with medical issues without leaving a class unsupervised.

Those of us that are fully trained have been on an initial 3 day first aid at work course then 2 day refresher courses every 3 years (I think it's 3 years, I've not needed refreshing yet).

All staff (teaching, non-teaching, lunchtime supervisors) have epipen training annually. None of us have had specific asthma training as far as I know. First aiders did get some extra training specific to one child (who has now left) who had additional medication that needed in emergencies.

We don't have an AED our any kind of defibrillator. They were mentioned on my original first aid course, but the thinking went that children were very unlikely to need one so it wasn't worth the expense in schools where budgets are already stretched.

[bumpybecky]

Our H&S coordinator has told me that there's no legal obligation to provide first aid cover for the children, only the adults that work in school

I'm still not convinced that's right. We normally have at least 2 first aiders on site (although there have been exceptions).

[SilverApples]

Our support staff get trained as well, but the INSET's optional for them

[Greenkit]

Interesting

So personally do you think (after watching the video) that

1. all staff should be trained in basic First Aid
   
2. AED's should be in every school?

[SilverApples]

We've got one in our local shopping centre that was paid for by a local charity, the chances of it being used on an adult are far higher than a child needing it. This gorl made headlines because of the exceptional nature of the incident.
Who would fund AEDs in school? Do we have something along the lines of a 'Good Samaritan Law' like the States do?

Yes, staff should have FA training annually, and schools should accept responsibility for the welfare of pupils, including asthmatics and other known medical needs. That's not consistent as this threads already shows.

[bumpybecky]

1. I think everyone over a certain age (12 maybe?) should be trained to do CPR. There's a lot more to first aid than that, but CPR would be a start

1. I don't have enough evidence to decide - the video doesn't give enough data to make an assessment

how many children have cardiac arrests each year?
how likely is their survival without the AED equipment?
how much does that survival increase with the equipment?
how much do they cost to buy AND maintain?
who would be paying?

[noblegiraffe]

I did first aid on my PGCE but none since (8 years ago). I'm secondary. It is something I'd like more training on - I had to deal with a pupil having an epileptic fit in a lesson once. If the school trains us does that leave them more open to being sued if I did something wrong?

[bumpybecky]

If you had proper 3 day first aid at work course, you're covered by insurance (or at least you were after the one I did with St John ambulance). I'm not sure what the situation is when the school organises the training

[bigTillyMint]

No, but I think 3 out of 20 or so staff are trained at my current setting.

I have luckily never had to deal with anything serious in 26 years of teaching - there was always a trained first-aider available.

[sashh]

how many children have cardiac arrests each year?

Very few, probably none without an underlying condition and they usually go into respiratory arrest. Those with an underlying condition are likely to have had a defib fitted inside them.

I've never had to defib a child and I only remember one being defibed when I worked in cath labs. I remeber another child going into respiratory arrest and unfortunately passed away. In a respiratory arrest a defib is useless. This child had a heart condition, hence being in a cath lab, but even with a paediatric cardiologist and a room full of other medically qualified people the outcome was death.

This was discussed at length a while ago when a PTA wanted to buy a defib. I am aware some special schools have them.

First aid isn't something you just learn, it has a 'sell by' date, usually 3 years, so you have to retrain everyone every three years.

Look up the old thread, it was very interesting. I think (don't quote me) that there ended up being an AED available for public use at or near the school.

[Makingchanges]

I'm primary and none of the teachers are trained in first aid but quite a few of the TAs are as they can leave classes to administer first aid.

[Wonderstuff]

I'm in secondary, none of the teachers are trained, the PE staff would like to be but school won't fund it. As others have said better to have support staff trained so teachers can look after the rest of a class.

We have admin staff who are first aid trained. We are talking about a de-fib, the main worry is not cost but fear of legal action if it is incorrectly used. Which I think is pretty sad.

All staff have annual epipen training.

[QueenofLouisiana]

All teachers, TAs and MDAs are trained in First aid at work in my school. EYFS are trained in paediatric first aid, teachers who take swimming are trained in shallow water rescue which includes CPR.

All teachers and TAs are additionally trained in epi-pen use. We are a middle sized primary.

[PervCat]

No frigging way. Not my job.

[Greenkit]

Pervcat do you mean no your job to help someone if in need? or your not trained in First Aid in your job.

[PervCat]

But no more than your average joe. Think of the liability

[LuvMyBoyz]

Which school would let a teacher out for 3 days FA training? In my secondary a few of the support staff are trained to this level.

[Greenkit]

Surely within your inset days?

I do think it is sad that schools dont see the importance of First Aid training both for staff and pupils.

[SilverApples]

We have three support staff trained to a higher level than our one day certificate, one KS1, one KS2 and the lead MDS. This is a school of around 400.

[Phineyj]

No they're not. However, we're being offered it as CPD this year and I've signed up. I would much prefer to be trained in it especially as we have very patchy phone provision.

Mind you when I worked for the NHS there was no requirement to be trained in First Aid (if you were non-clinical)