Do schools need to have a book for accidents?

[tryingtokeepintune]

HI,

Just wondering if anyone can help me? I was told that my child's school does not have an accident or incidence book eg. if someone was hit etc. I thought it was a legal requirement. Does anyone know the relevant legislation?

I don't know the law, but my school does record accidents if they are treated in the medical room. We then get a slip of paper home in the book bag. My children have had quite a few notes home. The notes home is a fairly recent development, perhaps in the past two or three years.

All places of employment have to have an accident book by law for staff and I would have thought that it extended to members of the public /customers so in a school's case children.

Schools should keep a record of any first aid
treatment given by first aiders and appointed
persons. This should include:
the date, time and place of incident;
the name (and class) of the injured or ill person;
details of the injury/illness and what first aid
was given;
what happened to the person immediately
afterwards (for example went home, resumed
normal duties, went back to class, went to
hospital);
name and signature of the first aider or person
dealing with the incident.

We've just been ofsted-ed and they were obsessed with safeguarding and health and safety. All protocols checked with a fine toothcomb.
So yes, your school should have one.

Thanks for the reply. Will go look through for legislation. Can't understand why I was told no such book exists!

I think the law even states that it must be a bound book to avoid tampering with records.

could it be they record it electronically? so no book

We have an "accident book" (actually a folder but I really cannot see how records could be tempered with, could you elaborate tethersend?)

We record :

• Who was hurt
• Where did it happen
• When did it happen (date + time)

-Which member of staff took care of the child

• what happened and what care was given

I will find out, but I remember being told on a training course last year that folders and electronic records did not meet the legal requirements and that incidents mist be recorded in a bound book. Will check.

I don't know about the legal need to do so, but the reason a bound book could be used is that pages can not be added later, or removed and changed/substitued later on. Presumably the accident record book is a legal document so from that point of view it would make sense that it is a bound book.

If you look at the school accident books available to buy they are all perforated pages
www.eurekadirect.co.uk/Pupil-Accident-Books.aspx
www.firstaid4less.co.uk/first-aid-accessories/accident-books.aspx

shop.redcross.org.uk/shop/product.asp?id=59704&category=80701&gclid=CPzIk96R7KcCFUdP4QodaSDDbA

safety-signs-catalogue.com/accident_book.html

They have to be perforated for data protection. The bit where the incident is described is meant to be left inthe book so that someone looking thourgh it or someone filling it in can spot any patterns in the type or frequency of previous accidents but the bit with the persons details torn out and kept in a seure place.

Yep, elphabadefiesgravity is quite right. I'm one of my school's 1st Aiders, and to have an accident book is a legal requirement in all workplaces.

We fill in the book with info on child, time, injury, who treated child etc and we also send home a letter explaining what happene, and also fill in a County form if the injury appears to need medical treatment.