Health and Safety


	Contents:
		1.	Illness and Injury
		2.	Absences
		3.	Fire Procedure
		4.	Stay Safe Programme

	Illness and Injury
	Procedure to be followed in the case of illness or injury. 1. Parents are reminded regularly that they should not send their children to school if they are unwell. 2. If a child complains of feeling unwell, the class teacher should decide whether the child is well enough to remain in class. If he/she is in any doubt, the child will be sent to the Principal. He will decide what action needs to be taken. 3. If the Principal feels that the child is not well enough to remain in school, the parents will be contacted and asked to take the child home. If the parents cannot be found, the child's guardian will be contacted. In the event of the school failing to contact the parents or guardian, the child will be kept in school until home time. 4. Medicine will not be administered to any child by any member of staff. If medicine has to be administered parents can come to the school during the day. 5. If a child is injured in school, the same procedures as outlined above will be followed. 6. In the case of illness or injury where the Principal feels that the child needs to be treated as a matter or urgency, he will bring him/her to the local doctor or call an Ambulance. The parents will be contacted as soon as possible. 7. Superficial cuts will be cleaned and dressed using an antiseptic cream or liquid. 8. If the Principal is unsure of the extent of an injury, he will either contact the parents and let them decide or bring the child to the doctor. 9. A record of what the school regards as serious injuries is kept. 10. The ultimate responsibility for dealing with sick or injured children rests with the Principal. 11. When the Principal is not available, the Vice-Principal assumes his duties and responsibility. 12. Surgical gloves to be worn when dealing with sick or injured children.


	Absences
	Pupils:
	Children who are absent from school must bring in a note explaining the absence. Between the staff room and the secretary's office is designated a "sick bay" area. Children returning to school after illness will be allowed to stay there during break time if there is a written request from parent/guardian or if in the opinion of the class teacher the child is not well enough to go out.
	Teachers:
	When a teacher is absent on a course day or on uncertified sick leave his/her class will be given work to do and then split up. A file of work for each class is kept in the Principal's office for each class. A substitute is employed if the absence is certified. If a teacher leaves his/her classroom for a short period the teacher directly opposite is informed and he/she supervises until the teacher returns. The policy of the school is that only one teacher per day may take a "course day". The school is flexible in exceptional circumstances.


	Fire Procedure
	If a member of staff notices a fire he/she should immediately sound the alarm/ring the bell.
	Procedure to be followed in classroom: 1. The teacher should tell the children to form a line in the classroom. The children should then leave the room in an orderly manner and exit the building by the nearest door. The teacher should be last to leave the room having checked that no children are left in the toilets. The teacher must bring the roll book with her/him. 2. The children should be brought to the Junior Yard over near the fence, which is marked Fire Assembly Point. 3. The roll should then be called. If a child is missing, the teacher should inform the Principal. 4. Under no circumstances should any child or teacher re-enter the building until the all clear has been sounded. 5. If a class is in the hall they should exit to the yard by the door deemed most appropriate by the teacher in charge. 6. The remedial teacher, on existing, should return the child in her care to the class teacher. She should then go to the Fire Assembly Point. 7. Ancillary staff should leave the building by the nearest exit and go to the Fire Assembly Point. 8. When the all clear has been sounded the classes should return to their rooms.


	Stay Safe Programme
	A safety skills curriculum called the Stay Safe Programme is taught to the children. The programme was developed in co-operation with the Departments of Education and Health. The aim of the programme is to teach children personal safety skills so they can look after themselves in situations, which could be upsetting or dangerous. It deals initially with common situations that most children will experience at some stage or other, e.g. getting lost or being bullied. The programme also teaches children the safety skills necessary to protect themselves from physical or sexual abuse. Children are taught to tell a trusted adult about any problems they may have. There are lessons for senior infants, 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th. Occasionally, children have worksheet exercises for homework. One advantage of using this method is that each exercise contains a space for the parents' signature. In this way parents become more aware of what their children are learning during the programme and are given the opportunity to discuss and reinforce the safety skills being taught in school.