Teachers... please help!

[Mmmmbrekkie]

I’m sorry to bother with such a dull question.

First aid. What are the requirements? How frequently do you have to update? Does the school / LEA provide? Or do you need to do privately?

I’m considering a move in to teaching and doing a complete brain storm of every issue I can think of. Paediatric first aid requirements just hit me.

Huge thanks in advance

Hello, I'm at a sixth form college and have just completed my St. John's ambulance first aid. Only needed to do as I am taking students on a trip to Budapest.

My advice is to focus on why you want to enter teaching and what you can offer the students. Engaging lessons and enthusiasm are key - first aid training is not! Feel free to ask me questions.......I worked three years in tough secondary school and have since moved to sixth form.

You don't need any specific first aid skills.

First aid is normal the job of support staff either TAs or office staff because teachers have a full class to look after.

The first school I worked at put on free first aid training for all staff every year. Subsequent schools I've been don't tend to this. There is are a couple of designated first aiders and they deal with any injuries or medical issues.

If you work in early years it’s a 12hr paediatric first aid course every three years - usually LEAs have some training or you can do 6hrs online followed by 6hrs practical with private companies.

Good practice to have paediatric 1st aid to work in EYFS, but schools will send you on this if needed.

I have been teaching for over 20 years and never done a first aid course!

At our school, all staff who are present at the same time as the children, gets first aid training every three years. So, in reality, the only staff members who don't take part are the cleaners who don't start work until the children have left.
After all, first aid isn't just about minor cuts and grazes.

Firstly, enormous thanks. Genuinely helpful

Secondly, goodness - I have presumed that first aid would be an absolute requirement for any teacher or TA. As a parent, I would certainly hope that was the case!

Anyway, thank you for clarity.

Schools have designated first aiders. Usually support staff rather than teachers.

^we get training for how to deal with things in a classroom setting, such as anaphylactic shock, seizures, asthma attacks etc. but most teachers are not designated first aiders. We send for them instead. It’s usually for legal reasons, to not be liable.

We are trained in administering epipens and similar annually but otherwise, first aid training is given on an INSET day or specific people go to be trained.

OP, would you really expect, if a child, say, was rocking on their chair and fell backwards and hit their head, the teacher to stop teaching/being in charge of the class and administer first aid? There are specific first aiders because the job of a teacher is to be in charge of and have the safety of their class (in the same way if a child became violent then the teacher's duty is usually to look after the rest of the class).

None of the teachers at my school are first aid trained but all are capable of basic first aid.

Our first aiders are all support staff. Most have basic emergency first aid training. Myself and one other have paediatric first aid as well as emergency first aid at work. I have defribrillator training and specific epilepsy and diabetes management training as well.

OP, would you really expect, if a child, say, was rocking on their chair and fell backwards and hit their head, the teacher to stop teaching/being in charge of the class and administer first aid?

In that example then the teacher should absolutely administer first aid! What should happen is that the teacher should send a child (or other adult IF there is one in the room) to get a qualified first aided. Teacher should go to the injured child and ensure they did not move and were in no further danger, speak to the child and monitor consciousness while looking out for vomiting etc whilst awaiting a first aider.

No way would a teacher just send for a first aider and carry on teaching while a potentially injured child was laying on the floor.

@IWantChocolates

In the event that a child swallowed a rubber and began choking to death... I would expect the teacher to be able to administer first aid rather than go and get the designated first aider when time is of the essence.

Being a first aider is a voluntary matter. Teachers’ contracts of employment do not include any requirement to give first aid, in the same way as they do not include any requirement to administer medicines to pupils routinely. Support staff will often have this role. Teachers who do volunteer tend to be those whose roles expose them to a higher likelihood, such as a PE teacher or DT teacher, for example.

Teachers should consider carefully before agreeing to become a school’s trained first aider since there can be practical difficulties, such as not being able to leave their class easily.

Risk assessments will be made that makes sure a staff member can get to a classroom within a designated time, so that first aid can be administered (often bringing the required medication with them) whilst at the same time someone else can be calling 999 if needed and the teacher tasked with removing the rest of the class from the situation to give the ‘patient’ dignity and avoid frightening other pupils, where panic can make things worse. A class of 30+ freaked out pupils is not conducive to performing an abdominal thrust safely, for example.

This also allows for changes in a school routine, such as a supply teacher being used, a brand new staff member or a school trip, for example.

It doesn't sound like you're asking because you're interested in teaching.

Fwiw, every member of staff is first aid trained at my school: TAs, head, teachers, office staff. In most schools it's usually a handful of people who act as a first aider.

In a restaurant, children's play area or supermarket etc would you expect everybody to be first aid trained? I wouldn't. I'd expect help to be found as quickly as needed.

What I meant by "teacher continue to teach" was be in charge of the class as a whole. Not actually just continue the lesson without stopping to ensure the child had aid! Sorry, bad explanation on my part!

And my example was a non-life-threatening example (usually, it depends on circumstances). If a child anywhere was choking then adults nearby would leap into action, including me if I was teaching. Fortunately, choking is a rare one at school ime (although EYFS is a bit different!), but banging heads/hurting arms/falling over are far more common.

I'm an experienced teacher. I tried to explain to you that a teacher has a duty of care to all pupils, so dealing with minor first aid issues is not part of the job role.

@Bigdreams

Restaurant
Play area
Supermarket

No. The child will be with their parents or someone entrusted to care for them. Whether the parent has first aid training is their decision

We have people who are first aid trained within the school but as a teacher I have never done formal first aid training and it isn't a requirement. However I have children myself and know the basics.