School first-aid arrangements and cover procedure

This procedure applies conditionally to maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. It concerns first-aid arrangements for employees and also considers the needs of pupils, students and visitors.

1. First-aid needs assessment

The school will complete a first-aid needs assessment and use its findings to determine the appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel for employees. The assessment will consider the circumstances of the workplace, including whether trained first-aiders are needed, what should be included in first-aid boxes and whether a first-aid room is required.

The assessment will also consider the needs of pupils, students and visitors, including the school's population, activities and any relevant workplace or workforce issues or more significant health and safety risks.

The school will review its first-aid needs after major changes, such as changes to staff or premises, so that provision remains appropriate.

2. Equipment, facilities and personnel

The school will provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel so that employees who are injured or taken ill at work receive immediate attention. Provision will be determined by the first-aid needs assessment.

The school will provide adequate facilities and a suitably stocked first-aid box. The contents and locations of first-aid boxes and facilities will reflect the needs assessment, identified hazards and school activities.

Where the first-aid needs assessment identifies a need for first-aiders, the school will arrange an appropriate number of suitably trained first-aiders and provide availability and cover arrangements appropriate to the assessment.

Where mains tap water is not readily available for eye irrigation in a school area or during an activity, the school will provide at least one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline at 0.9% in sealed, disposable containers. A container whose seal has been broken will not be kept for reuse, and a container will not be used beyond its expiry date.

3. Appointed person

Where the first-aid needs assessment identifies that a designated first-aider or first-aider is not required, the school will appoint a person to take charge of the first-aid arrangements.

The appointed person will look after the first-aid equipment and facilities and call the emergency services when required. The person may provide emergency cover within their role and competence where a first-aider is absent due to unforeseen circumstances; this does not treat annual leave as unforeseen absence.

The school will arrange for the appointed person to be available whenever people are at work and during relevant school activity periods. The appointed person's local contact details and the arrangements for access to equipment and facilities will be recorded at [main site location].

4. Availability and absence cover

First-aid provision will be arranged so that first aid can be administered without delay and is available throughout working and school activity periods.

The school will take account of absence of a first-aider or appointed person and will maintain cover arrangements that reflect alternative work practices. The arrangements will identify how first-aid provision remains available when the normal responsible person is unavailable.

Where school activities involve machinery, hazardous materials or other significant health and safety risks identified by the first-aid needs assessment, the school will consider whether a sufficient number of appropriately trained first-aiders and additional equipment or facilities are needed.

Where employees travel regularly, work away from the main school site or are otherwise mobile, the needs assessment will determine whether they should carry a personal first-aid box and whether they should be issued with a personal communicator or mobile phone.

5. Emergency services and communication

The appointed person or another person acting within the local arrangements will call the emergency services when required. The school's emergency-service contact method is [emergency services contact method].

The school will ensure that staff, pupils, students and parents or carers are aware of its first-aid arrangements. Information will include how to obtain first aid, the locations of relevant equipment and facilities, and the responsible first-aider or appointed person arrangements.

The arrangements for [school name] will be communicated through [first aid communication method] and will be made available to people participating in school activities.

6. Application during school activities

The school will apply the first-aid needs assessment to working periods, school activities and relevant arrangements away from the main site. Provision for pupils, students and visitors will be considered even though the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 do not require provision for people other than the school's own employees.

For activities away from the main school site, the responsible person will use the needs assessment and local arrangements to determine how first-aid equipment, facilities, personnel and emergency-service contact are made available.

7. Local arrangements

The school will identify the appointed person or first-aiders, first-aid equipment and facility locations, availability arrangements, absence cover and emergency-service contact arrangements for [school name].