Safety & First Aid

Safety & First Aid

In the school environment, all school personnel have an ethical and legal responsibility to ensure that students have a safe and hazard-free environment and are provided proper care in emergencies where injuries or sudden illnesses occur. Because health and safety are so closely related, teachers (and parents) need to understand the importance of health and safety in the school program.

The emergency care given at the time a person is injured or becomes suddenly ill is known as first aid. The following should be kept in mind when administering first aid:

First aid is given to an injured person to prevent further harm and reduce suffering and discomfort
An injured person should not be moved unless it is absolutely necessary, until the nature of the injury is known and provisions have been made to prevent further injury
Always call for emergency medical assistance in serious cases
The person administering first aid should know what NOT to do as well as what to do
Improper emergency care may result in permanent injury or even death

Though not usually required of teachers, certification in CPR and basic first aid would be in everyone's best interest. The most important thing to remember is that accidents do occur, often despite our best efforts to maintain a safe environment. Preparation for the worst is the best policy.

For further inquiries, please visit the following resources:

American Red Cross

First Aid & CPR Registry

The National Safety Council

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