Managing Injuries and Illness

This topic covers general injury and illness management. For COVID-19 specific information, see COVID-19 Health Measures.

As part of our primary duty of care and health and safety management we work to prevent injuries and illness and ensure we have robust processes in place to deal with unplanned incidents when they arise.

This policy applies to students, staff, and any others at school, including visitors, volunteers, and contractors. Everyone at our school is informed of our processes for managing injuries and illness and are made aware of the location of first aid supplies.

Initial response to injuries and illness

During the school day, if notified of any injury or illness, staff at St Andrew's College follow the steps below. Also see Communicating about Injuries and Illness.

Responding staff assess the situation and decide whether to call 111 and/or contact a staff member who is a certified first aider for assistance. If unsure, they may also phone Healthline (0800 611 116) for professional advice.

If the injured person is unable to be moved from where they were injured, staff:
- prevent further injury if a hazard was involved (e.g. directing traffic away, switching off power to machinery, etc.)
- secure the scene
- keep unnecessary people away from the site.
Staff or students who are ill or need first aid (and are able to be moved) are treated in the preparatory school office (preparatory school)/health centre (secondary school). Preparatory students are initially assessed by staff before a parent, the college nurse, or an ambulance is called, depending upon the nature of the injury/sickness. Secondary students are initially assessed by a staff member or the college nurse. A parent or medical service provider may be called depending on the nature of the injury/illness. Very minor injuries may be dealt with by duty staff in the playground.
Responding staff administer first aid as appropriate to the injury or illness. After providing initial care (e.g. putting pressure on bleeding), we check the medical notes of the student (or ask the staff member or visitor) to determine if there are any health conditions that need to be taken into account before providing any further treatment. We also follow the Medicines policy as needed.
If someone is bitten, we take appropriate actions to avoid infection (e.g. washing the wound, advising parents/caregivers that they may wish to consult with a medical professional). We also follow our behaviour management policies and follow up as part of our reporting.
For any head injury, St Andrew's College provides appropriate first aid and calls emergency services if needed. If the injured person remains on site, staff monitor for signs of concussion (including delayed concussion). St Andrew's College has notifying processes for head injuries. See our Guidelines for Managing Head Injuries.
One or more of the following signs and symptoms may signal concussion and the need for immediate medical attention:

Physical signs
- Loss of consciousness
- Not moving
- Loss of balance/coordination
- Disorientation or dazed/blank look
- Grabbing or clutching head
- Repeated vomiting
- Seizures or convulsions
- Weakness or tingling in arms or legs
Memory
- Unable to correctly answer simple questions such as "what day is it?", "what month is it?", or "what was happening when you were injured?"
- Other memory problems
Clinical symptoms
- Blurry vision
- Neck pain
- Dizziness
- Double vision
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light/noise
- Tiredness
- Unable to concentrate
- Emotional or irritable.
If unsure, we contact 111 or Healthline for advice.

ACC | Te Kaporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whara: Concussion

Healthify | He Puna Waiora: Concussion
Staff always follow appropriate hygiene measures when dealing with blood and other body substances, including waste disposal and cleaning surfaces.

All injuries and illnesses are recorded and reported appropriately and notified to WorkSafe as needed.

After treatment

After treatment, an injured or ill student is monitored until they are able to return to class or leave the school.

The student may need to be collected by a parent/caregiver and signed out into their care.
If parents/caregivers/emergency contacts cannot be contacted or cannot collect a student who requires medical care, a staff member may need to take the student to a doctor or medical centre.
If a student is collected by ambulance, a staff member may accompany them, if appropriate.

An injured or ill staff member may take sick leave or return to their duties (if appropriate) after they have been treated. Visitors, volunteers, and contractors are supported until they are able to either leave the school site or resume their activities.

Anyone with an ongoing illness is expected to stay away from school if they may be contagious. See Infectious Diseases.

If warranted by the nature of the incident, St Andrew's College follows up with affected students and their whānau to check on their wellbeing and recovery. Support systems are in place for any students returning to school after a health-related absence. Ill or injured staff are assisted with support and rehabilitation. Others affected by an incident are also offered support if needed. See Crisis Management.

Topic Number: 55117	Last Modified Date: 30/04/2025 11:18:00
Topic Version: 1	Published Date: 15/09/2025

Last review	Term 2 2022
Topic type	Customised