What would you expect school to do when child breaks a bone at school?

[ThatlittlebellwentBOING]

Just wondered what you would expect from the school.
My child broke her arm at school yesterday and when I got called I was told it looked broken. I got their as soon as I can which still took me 20 minutes. They were holding her arm for her with an obvious bend in it.
I wondered if it should have been stabilised by a first aider into a sling as leaving school holding it and getting into car was so difficult. They said they would have but had no slings at school? They had given an ice pack.
It seemed such a long time til I could get there and no one could get there sooner. My parents wondered why they didn’t call a paramedic.
I’ve never dealt with these issues before and wondered what would considered a normal procedure to follow.
Thanks

( child has arm in a cast now it was badly broken by a simple fall)

My daughter broke her collar bone recently and I called an ambulance because she was in extreme pain and I didn’t know which bone it was and I couldn’t move her at all without her screaming in pain. The paramedics gave her morphine before moving her. At A&E they said they advised people not to do slings these days because they do more harm than good if they aren’t done right.

My dd broke her arm quite badly when she was 9 on the school playground. School called an ambulance and they took her to a&e. They gave her morphine before even trying to move her. I was on a driving lesson at the time but my friend managed to contact my instructor so I met her at the hospital. They didnt try to move her arm and certainly didn't put it in a sling! It really depends on the break.

To the poster saying ambulances can only give paracetamol, Imhave been given morphine and gas and air previously in ambulances.

Cross posting on morphine!

When I broke my ankle I got the bus to a&e.

What is it, the three yorkshiremen (or whatever that skit was called)?

Not all ambulances carry morphine

I understand the arguments for not calling an ambulance but could the school not have called NHS111 for advice? If the hospital later said that there could have been further loss of function related to the injury then it sounds like the least they could have done. As for the Health and Safety assessment surely that would be of school procedures, so why would a mother want to protect a school from having those looked into? And why would a school be so wary of being checked on?

I find it surprising that schools aren't required to have a first aider for the pupils. I am in Scotland and have been involved in both scouting and cadets. In both, I was required to have a first aid certificate; first aid equipment was required and an accident form would be required to be completed. I have taken a cub scout to A&E when he fell with his head hitting the floor; his mother was telephoned and asked to meet us there.

Mind you, most of my first aid training was for combat first aid which I haven't really required as a sucking chest wound or resuscitation while wearing gas masks is luckily not that common in this country....

Every workplace first aid kit contains at least one triangular bandage if not more. First aiders are trained to use them for multiple things, slings being just one. If they had no triangular bandages, their kit fell short of the requirements. This should be of concern.
I suspect when they saw the arm, they became nervous of applying their training. That is also not good.
When small broke his arm, I arrived to find him with an ice pack and a rather exasperated first aider. First thing I did was to grab the triangular bandage and make the sling whilst explaining to him that it would help the pain whilst I drive him to hospital. He did not have time to object. She told me they had been trying to get it on but she did not want to hurt him as it was clearly very painful. As soon as it was on, he stopped crying as the muscles were supported and the wrist was above his heart.
Sometimes you have to be firm with your patient.
During training, you are also taught alternative methods to support and immobilise including using makeshift splints and slings like rolled up newspapers and clothing.
No they should not have called the ambulance unless it was an open fracture or he had blue fingers due to severely compromised bloodflow.
I would be suggesting retraining their staff and restocking their kit to the minimum required levels.

The break was in his wrist not the main part of his arm by the way, hence wrist above heart.

Schools I've worked at call parents first. If the parent is on their way, they comfort the child but Mum/Dad deals with whatever treatment is needed. Only if a parent couldn't get to the school, if the school couldn't contact the parent or emergency contact or if it was a major incident (like uncontrollable bleeding or unconsciousness), would a school call an ambulance or seek medical treatment.

TA and qualified first aider here!

This is what would have happened at my school, no ambulance as it is only required if bone is sticking out of skin.

Parents called to take child to hosp, if can't get through to any named contacts, messages left and member of staff takes child. If no safe way to travel (booster seat / insurance etc.) ambulance would have to be called and member of staff accompany. This would be a last resort.

Icepack - perfect. Helped to reduce pain and swelling.

Lots of TLC. Some juice and a 'be brave' sticker.

To me, sounds like the school did a great job but I understand as a parent why you're unsure and feel the way you do.

A first aider has literally only had an afternoon of training. They're not a doctor so wouldnt actually know for sure if its broken.

We dont have slings at our school. Just bandages. We were taught in our training that slings could do more damage if done incorrectly and it would be better to support the arm without if you weren't confident. We spent about 5 mins practicing slings a couple of years ago. So if this was the same for your school, this may be why they chose not to use a sling.

I redid my training last month and slings weren't even covered! It focused now on choking, CPR and poisens etc. The proper life saving stuff. We only went through applying a bandage and supporting arm using bandages if there's something stuck in the arm or leg or wherever

mind you, it was pediatric first aid so perhaps this is why. However both different trainers from different companies and im aware the guidelines chop and change regularly so maybe they are up to date or not up to date.

Hope your dd's arm mends quick!

A first aider has literally only had an afternoon of training. They're not a doctor so wouldnt actually know for sure if its broken.

Even for refresher training, I always had at least two full days at any place I've worked or trained. Initial training was four days or two weekends. Anything less and you're not competent.

Well I’ve learned something tonight, I would have definitely called an ambulance for a broken arm (if visibly bent as OP said).

This is probably incorrect given what people have said, but I would be worried about it jolting around in a vehicle if not professionally strapped up, and fragments of bone tearing through nerves, or causing internal bleeding.

I have never seen someone break a bone so maybe it’s not as dramatic as I imagine.

My son broke his arm at home in the middle of a snow storm. We considered driving him but in the end his arm was bent in a c shape, he was in shock and we couldn’t get the belt on him. It was very frightening and we did call an ambulance. Some of the responses on here you’d think we were ruining public health for life!

A friend’s daughter did the same at school and the school called an ambulance, parents were called and one followed and one rode with her. It is actually quite traumatic for the child and the parent to gave a badly broken bone.

I’ve also done various rounds of first aid 2 day training so I can also join the qualified first aider club. It’s hardly medical training

I have recently done paediatric first aid training. All childcare settings should have a functional first aid kit which is regularly maintained and it should include a sling. In the absence of a sling you could use any large piece of fabric/cardigan etc - the trainer actually went through what to do in the absence of a sling. There should also always be a first aider on site - although sometimes people being off sick/on holiday can mean that there isn't. I would want to check that they actually have proper procedures in place. In terms of procedures for getting to hospital, unless an emergency, this is usually down to the parents but schools will have their own written procedures as best practice. Ofsted also require that there are written procedures although I can't remember off the top of my head if first aid is a required one.

Ideally staff would convey child to hospital and you would meet them there.

I can just imagine how many parents would take the piss out of that by showing up hours later rather than inconvenience themselves.

Those who would call an ambulance have obviously not never sat on a cold, wet floor for an extended period of time with a person who does require an ambulance! Or indeed watched any of the paramedic fly on the wall programmes on lately - watch them - you may educate yourselves! They are seriously overstretched!

It’s clear to me there needs to be widespread training of the public - maybe more TV ads etc because a lot of people just don’t understand the limitations of the NHS.

As for the school, I’m sure they were looking out for signs of reduced circulation and would have acted appropriately if they’d seen any. If you’d not been able to get a lift, they’d have probably taken her to hospital and asked you to make your way there.

It’s fine, it’s no drama and doesn’t need to become one, children break bones all the time - administer TLC and get on with your lives.

DS went to hospital on the bus with a badly broken wrist. He needed surgery including a metal plate and 6 pins. He was very lucky not to have severed arteries/ nerves/veins. It isn't just the bones you need to worry about, which is why supporting/ immobilising the limb is important.
One of my dc suffered a serious head injury at school and the school didn't even let me know.
There seems to be a wide variation in how schools deal with accidents and injuries.

A trained medic? Not every school. At one of my previous schools, I found a girl lying down in the staff restroom. She had been sent by her class teacher to "take a rest", having been taken ill in class. It was obvious to me that she was having a serious anaphylactic episode. I reported this to the school receptionist (the only person available), and she phoned the father, and then the emergency contact. No reply. Her reaction? "Just leave her to sleep it off". I used my own initiative, contrary to school protocols and called an ambulance, which arrived with greatest speed. She was a very ill young lady, and may very well not have made it without the paramedics. Don't get me started on some schools' medical ignorance.

Twice my dd2 broke her arm at school

The first time at junior school the head teacher drove dd to hospital

Second time at senior school they called an ambulance and a teacher went with her

Both occasions I was at hospital before they got there, as I worked 5 minutes from The hospital. So was there to greet them.

First break was a green stick and second time was completely broken and dd2 went to theatre

Would have expected a make shift sling from a hoodie/cardigan/tie to help until she got to hospital.

My son broke his arm 4 times and also a finger (in a way that would make everyone sick at the sight), each time at school or football training. The worse break (full break inside) wasn't obvious at all and he went 6 hours before I realise it was more than a strain when his fingers turned blue.

Other times, he did only strained a muscle. He has told me that the most painful injuries were not the most severe at all, and actually the opposite. He was convinced he'd broken fingers when he ran into a door at school recently but there were no breaks. He said that was twice more painful than when he had his bad upper arm break and they were even considering surgery.

I work in childcare so regularly have colleagues attending first aid training. The advice changes every time! Someone who completed theirs recently was told not to bother with slings (also bandages in many cases) because a paramedic or medical professional at the hospital would just take it off again to assess the injury. Putting it on and taking if off will generally cause more pain or discomfort.