Keymer

Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Policy

NQS

QA2

2.1.2

Health practices and procedures – Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.

2.2.2

Incident and emergency management – Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practised and implemented.

 

National Law

Section

174

Offence to fail to notify certain information to Regulatory Authority

National Regulations

Regs

12

Meaning of serious incident

85

Incident, injury, trauma and illness policies and procedures

86

Notification to parents of incident, injury, trauma and illness

87

Incident, injury, trauma and illness record

88

Infectious diseases

89

First aid kits

97

Emergency and evacuation procedures

161

Authorisations to be kept in enrolment record

162

Health information to be kept in enrolment record

168

Education and care service must have policies and procedures

175

Prescribed information to be notified to Regulatory Authority

176

Time to notify certain information to Regulatory Authority

Aim

The service and all educators can effectively respond to and manage accidents, illness and emergencies which occur at the service to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, educators and visitors.

Related Policies
  • Death of a Child Policy
  • Emergency Service Contact Policy
  • Emergency Management and Evacuation Policy
  • Enrolment Policy
  • Grievance Policy
  • Infectious Diseases Policy
  • Medical Conditions Policy
Implementation

This policy and related policies and procedures at the service will be followed by nominated supervisors and educators of, and volunteers at, the service in the event that a child –

(a) is injured or

(b) becomes ill or

(c) suffers a trauma or

(d) is involved in an incident at the service

The Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor will ensure that:

  • a parent of a child is notified as soon as possible, preferably on the same day, and no later than 24 hours of the injury, illness, trauma or incident
  • an Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record is completed without delay
  • at least one first aid qualified educator (with asthma and anaphylaxis training) is always present at the service
  • first aid qualifications (including anaphylaxis and asthma management training) are current and updated at least every 3 years
  • all components of first aid qualifications are current if some require an earlier revision (eg CPR)
  • first aid qualified employees receive CPR refresher training annually
  • first aid qualified educators never exceed their qualifications and competence when administering first aid


The Nominated Supervisor/Assistant Director will also check to ensure the contents of first aid kits and their location are reviewed at least annually but every month and after every use. Audits will ensure each Kit has the required quantities, items are within their expiry dates and sterile products are sealed.  Consideration will also be given to whether the contents suit the injuries that have occurred, based on our incident, injury, trauma and illness records and action taken to obtain additional resources if required.

During our induction process for new educators and staff the Nominated Supervisor or delegated staff member will:

  • advise which (other) educators and staff have first aid qualifications
  • the location of the first aid kit(s)
  • obtain information about any medical needs the new employee may have that could require specialist first aid during an incident or medical emergency. This information will only be shared with the employee’s consent or to meet our duty of care to the employee.

The Nominated Supervisor will review the following matters in consultation with employees (e.g., at staff meetings) where appropriate, at least annually or when there are staff changes:

  • our first aid procedure
  • the location of our first aid kit(s)
  • the nature of incidents occurring at the service


If children are injured or become ill at the service, educators or staff members will request parents or authorised nominees to collect children within one hour of the request.

Photos of all educators and staff, together with their qualifications, in a prominent position where they can be easily viewed by families and team members, this is in main office.

Our service will use the Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record template published by ACECQA

We also use an Injury Register for less severe treatment

Administration of First Aid

If there is an accident, illness or injury requiring first aid an educator with a current first aid qualification will:

  • assess any further danger to the child, other children, and any adults present and take steps to remove or mitigate the danger
  • respond to the injury, illness or trauma needs of the child or adult in accordance with their current first aid, asthma, and anaphylaxis training, and in accordance with the child’s medical management plan and risk minimisation plan if relevant. As part of first aid response educator may if required:
  • call an ambulance (or ask another staff member to call and co-ordinate the ambulance). The Nominated Supervisor or a familiar educator will accompany the child in the ambulance if parents/guardians are going directly to the hospital
  • notify a parent or authorised nominee that the child requires medical attention from a medical practitioner
  • contact a parent or authorised nominee to collect the child from the service if required within 60 minutes
  • notify the nominated supervisor and parents of the incident, illness or injury the same day that it occurs
  • complete an Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record without delay


The Nominated Supervisor and educators will supervise and care for children in the vicinity of the incident, illness or injury as appropriate.

First Aid Kit Guidelines

First aid kits will be easily recognised and readily available where children are present at the service and during excursions.  They will be suitably equipped having regard to the hazards at the service, past and potential injuries and size and location of the service.

We will use the checklist in Safe Work Australia First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice

as a guide on what to include in our first aid kits, and tailor the contents as necessary to meet our service needs

Any First Aid kit at the service must –

  • not be locked
  • not contain paracetamol (Panadol)
  • have enough first aid resources for the number of employees and children
  • have appropriate first aid resources for the immediate treatment of injuries at the service (including asthma and anaphylaxis)
  • be accessible within two minutes of an incident (includes time required to access secure areas) and located where there is a risk of injury occurring if relevant
  • be taken on excursions
  • be constructed of resistant material, dustproof (can be sealed) and large enough to adequately store the required contents
  • preferably be fitted with a carrying handle as well as internal compartments
  • have a white cross on a green background with the words ‘First Aid’ prominently displayed on the outside
  • contain a list of contents
  • display emergency telephone numbers, and the phone number and location of the nearest first aid trained educators (including appropriate information for those employees who have mobile workplaces)
  • display a photograph of the first aid trained educators along with contact details to assist in the identification process
  • be maintained in proper condition and the contents replenished as necessary
Notification of serious incidents

The Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor will notify the regulatory authority through the online NQA ITS within 24 hours of any serious incident at our service (s. 174). If our service only becomes aware that the incident was serious afterwards, we will notify the regulatory authority within 24 hours of becoming aware that the incident was serious.

Serious incidents include:

  • the death of a child at the service or following an incident at the Service
  • any incident involving a serious injury or trauma to a child at the service which a reasonable person would say required urgent attention from a medical practitioner, or the child attended or should have attended a hospital e.g., broken limb
  • any incident involving serious illness of a child at the service where the child attended, or should have attended, a hospital eg severe asthma attack, seizure or anaphylaxis.

This does not include treatment at a hospital for non-serious injury, illness or trauma in cases where a General Practitioner consults from a hospital eg in rural and remote areas

  • any emergency where emergency services attended ie there was an imminent or severe risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of a person at the service. It does not include incidents where emergency services attended as a precaution
  • a child is missing or cannot be accounted for at the service
  • a child has been taken from the service by someone not authorised to do this
  • a child is mistakenly locked in or locked out of the service .

A serious injury, illness or trauma includes:

Amputation

Epileptic seizures

Anaphylactic reaction requiring urgent

Head injuries

Asthma requiring urgent hospitalisation

Measles

Broken bone/fractures

Meningococcal infection

Bronchiolitis

Sexual assault

Burns

Witnessing violence or a frightening event

Diarrhoea requiring urgent hospitalisation

 

Notification of serious complaints and circumstances

The Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor or any staff will notify the regulatory authority through the online NQA ITS:

  • Within 24 hours of any complaints alleging that a serious incident has occurred or is occurring while a child was or is at the service
  • Within 24 hours of any complaints that the National Law or Regulations have been breached
  • Within 7 days of any circumstances arising at the Service that pose a risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of a child
  • Within 7 days of any incident, complaint or allegation that physical or sexual abuse of a child has occurred or is occurring while the child is at the service
  • Within 24 hours of any children being educated and care for in an emergency, including where there is a child protection order, or the parent needs urgent health care. Emergency care can be no longer than two consecutive days of operation. The Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor will consider the safety, health and wellbeing of all children at the service before accepting the additional child/children, and will advise the regulatory authority about the emergency
  • Within 24 hours of any incidents that require the Service to close or reduce attendance.
Notification of Work Health and Safety incidents

Serious injury or illness is a “notifiable incident” under the work, health and safety legislation. Serious injury or illness means a person requires:

  • immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital or
  • immediate treatment for:
    • the amputation of any part of the body
    • a serious head injury
    • a serious eye injury
    • a serious burn
    • the separation of skin from an underlying tissue (such as degloving or scalping)
    • a spinal injury
    • the loss of a bodily function
    • serious lacerations or
  • medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance.

A serious illness includes any infection which the carrying out of work contributed to significantly, example an infection that can be linked to providing treatment to a person or coming into contact with human blood or body substances.

 

A dangerous incident is also notifiable under the legislation and includes:

  • an uncontrolled escape, spillage or leakage of a substance
  • an uncontrolled implosion, explosion or fire
  • an uncontrolled escape of gas or steam
  • an uncontrolled escape of a pressurised substance
  • electric shock
  • the fall or release from a height of any plant, substance or thing
  • the collapse, overturning, failure or malfunction of, or damage to, any plant that is required to be authorised for use under regulations
  • the collapse or partial collapse of a structure
  • the collapse or failure of an excavation or of any shoring supporting an excavation
  • the inrush of water, mud or gas in workings, in an underground excavation or tunnel.

The Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor will notify WorkCover by telephone or in writing (including by facsimile or email) as soon as possible after the injury, illness or incident.  Records of the incident must be kept for at least 5 years from the date that the incident is notified. The Approved Provide or Nominated Supervisor must ensure the site where the incident occurred is left undisturbed as much as possible until an inspector arrives or as directed by WorkCover.

Sources
  • Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
  • National Quality Standard
  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011
  • Safe Work Australia Legislative Fact Sheets First Aiders
  • Safe Work Australia First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice
Review

The policy will be reviewed annually by:

  • Management
  • Employees
  • Families
  • Interested Parties

 

Last reviewed: March 2022

Date for next review: March 2023