Accident and Emergency Policy

Including fire safety

It is my policy to keep children safe when they are in my care. Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare states that I must "take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children". I must also "promote the good health of the children, take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action if they are ill".  This includes keeping records of and reporting bruising in children who are not indepently mobile.  Please see the separate leaflet attached.

I regularly check my premises and they meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. I regularly review, update and practice fire evacuation procedures and record dates and times of fire drills (filed in the front of the current year's childminding records).

As a registered childminder, I am legally required to have a valid 12 hour first-aid certificate before registration which has to be renewed every 3 years. I can administer basic first-aid treatment, and my first-aid box is clearly labelled, easily accessible and contains appropriate equipment that meets the needs of the children (a list is attached). It is stored in the kitchen. Parent contact numbers are kept securely in my mobile phone which is on my person at all times.

I hold written permission from parents/carers on a Children's Information Sheet to seek emergency treatment for their child if it is needed.

I have an arrangement with two registered childminders to provide emergency back-up cover if necessary. Their details are: - Mrs Kate Ripley, Little Woodlands, Mayfield Avenue, New Haw, KT15 3AG Ofsted No 394080 Mob: 07976 442984 and Mrs Jayne Punter, 8 Kingston Rise Road, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3EY Ofsted No 121174, Tel: 01932-702906 Mob: 07813 446168.

Procedure if there is an accident to a minded child, myself or my own daughter

First, I reassure the injured child while making sure that the other children in my care are safe and calm.

Then, if the accident is a minor one and requires only basic first aid, I will deal with it myself whilst wearing protective clothing such as gloves and tell the injured child’s parents/carers immediatley by text or telephone. Once treated I will monitor the child to make sure there are no further symptoms.

If the incident is more serious, I will ring 999 or 112 for help.  I will then ring the relevant parent/carer and advise the situation asking them to meet me either at my house or at St Peters Hospital in Chertsey or whichever hospital the ambulance takes us to.  If time permits I will then ring the other parents/carers to ask them to collect their children.

If I have to accompany a child to hospital, I call my emergency back-up cover.  I will never take a child with a major injury to hospital in my own car.  I will take all relevant documentation with me in the ambulance when I accompany a child such as contracts including personal children’s information, allergies, doctors details, medications etc.

If I or any of my own children have an accident, I will get the nearest responsible adult to help, while my emergency back-up contacts the relevant parents/carers.  My emergency back-up cover will contact you and will expected you to collect your child straight away.

I will record all details in my accident book, sign and ask parents/carers to sign and then I will provide a copy for parents to take home.  I will also record any injuries that children arrive with in my accident book and ask the parents to sign before they leave the child in my care.  As well as recording all injuries I will also include incidents where no wound is visible, as symptons may become apparent only after the event e.g. concussion.  I review accident records regularly to identify any trends or recurring causes of injuries.

I have to report serious accidents, injury to or the death of a child whilst in my care to Surrey County Council’s Single Point of Access on 0300 4709100 or 01483 517898 (out of hours), Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk 0300 123 1231, RIDDOR (reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurances regulations 1995 www.hse.gov.uk/riddor) 0845 3009923 and my insurance company on 0300 003 0005 as soon as is reasonably possible and always within 14 days of the incident occurring. I will act on any advice given.

I also advise parents in person upon collection of any other incidents that happen at my home or whilst we are out.  For instance if we happen to see an accident and the children are distressed or may want to talk about it later or if a child has an emotional reaction to a thunder storm or flying insect etc.

Coronavirus

If I suspect that any child has symptoms of Coronavirus I will advise parents to collect their child immediately and request testing for the whole family.  I may stay open but I will notify all other families of children who may have been in contact with the affected child immediately by phone.  Everyone except the affected child can continue to attend my setting until results are confirmed. The affected child begins a 7 day isolation and their family start a 14 day isolation.  If any of the families’ tests come back positive the family should notify me immediately.  I will also be notified by NHS test and trace.  I will then have to close my setting and request a test for myself.  I will begin 7 days of isolation until my test results are confirmed.  If I test positive I continue isolating until 14 days have passed and my setting remains closed.  I will notify all families.  If the test comes back negative the child may return to my setting and I can continue to childmind as normal, if my test comes back negative I may reopen my setting once I receive my negative test results.

Accidents away from my home

I will carry parents/carers contact details with me together with my fully charged mobile phone when I am away from my home, in order to follow procedures above should an accident occur off site. I also carry a travel first aid kit whenever we are away from home which is regularly reviewed and replenished.

Other emergencies

If any other emergency occurs (such as localised flooding, power failure, snow, fire, my sickness, no heating or water to my house, high levels of sickness amongst the children, pandemic, heatwave etc) I will contact parents/carers as soon as possible. If we need to evacuate my premises I take my emergency bag (situated in the hallway) which contains a first aid kit, blankets, nappies, wipes, changes of clothes, water and snacks.  We may need to move to my emergency childminder’s address for the safety of the children.  I expect parents/carers to contact me in the event of any accident or emergency which may delay them. If it is not possible for them to contact me, I will keep the children safe until they can make contact with me or I will make contact with the relevant child's emergency contact.  I advise parents/carers as soon as it is safe to re-enter my house to resume childminding services.

Fire and emergency

If there is a fire at my home we have two main escape routes. The first one is via the front door onto the driveway at the front of the premises but not beyond the public footpath. The second escape route is out of the French doors into the back garden. Both escape routes are kept clear at all times.

We will leave the premises by whichever is the safest route taking the emergency card stuck to the refrigerator with us.

We will collect the first aid kit from the kitchen or if that is not accessible take the travel first aid kit from the emergency bag under the stairs.

Check register of attendees, check for possible injuries and treat immediately.  Call 999 or 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance and then call parents/carers to collect their children

This fire and emergency drill is practiced once a month by me pressing the smoke alarm. A record of our fire drills is kept at the front of my current year's childminding records and I make notes of how the drill went with any improvements we could make. I also issue each child with a certificate to say they have taken part.

Policy Written by: Ilana Hill Date: 17 January 2011, updated on 8 July 2020

Updated and reviewed:      Annually or as required

First Aid Kit List

20 assorted washproof plasters

2 eyepad dressing with loop

4 triangular bandage

6 HSE medium dressing 12cm x 12cm

2 HSE large dressing 18cm x 18cm

6 assorted safety pins

6 antiseptic wipes

1 rebreath resuscitation device

5 reliswab sterile gauze swabs

2 gloves (pair)

1 religauze tubular gauze 1m

1 plastic finger applicator

1 microporous tape 1.25cm x 10m

5 relipad dressing 5cm x 5cm

1 first aid scissors