Deutsche Schule Kobe International
Health, First Aid, Allergy and Medication Policy
At DSKI, we prioritise the good health and well-being of all children attending our school. This policy outlines the necessary steps we take to prevent the spread of infection and ensure children who become unwell are treated with care and sensitivity.
If a student is sick or showing symptoms of any illness that can be contagious eg flu or covid please see a doctor on the day of concern and let the school know the doctors advice about isolation or a return to work.
Healthy Eating
On a day to day basis we have a healthy eating, sugar free policy. For events we will allow treats with sugar suitable for the festival e.g. at halloween or Christmas. You are also welcome to send cakes in for your child`s birthday but we would ask that if possible to make it a healthy eating celebration.
Please note - prekindergarten is a sugar free zone for all events and birthdays due to the young age of the students.
Students Who Become Unwell During the Day
Any child who becomes unwell should be kept under observation and if the student continues to feel unwell brought to the office or for early years children, kept in room 4 and parents informed (via the school office and after agreeing with the principal) and asked to collect their child as soon as possible.
The following table is a list of contagious diseases and exclusion periods. If your child is showing any of these symptoms please keep your child off school and seek medical advice. Please inform the school office of the outcome as soon as practical (source Japanese ministry of health, labour and welfare).
Organisation of First Aid
The Principal is responsible for ensuring that all staff are trained in any aspects of first aid deemed necessary.
The Principal is responsible for ensuring all documentation is complete and filed.
Class First Aid Boxes are taken on class trips.
The allocated person will ensure the maintenance of the contents of the first aid boxes and other supplies.
All staff will be trained in First Aid once every two years
All staff will ensure that they have read the school's First Aid Policy.
All staff have a duty of care when dealing with sick or injured children and are required to provide assistance and follow school procedures.
First Aid Boxes
First Aid Boxes are located in every classroom, the staffroom, the multipurpose room and the school office.
A First Aid Bag is kept in the sports cupboard for use during P.E. Lessons.
First Aid Boxes should contain: sterilizing/cleaning fluid, band-aids/plasters, large band-aids/plasters, tape, gauze, triangular bandage, cotton pad, elastic bandage, cotton buds, wet sterile wipes, thermometer, scissors, tweezers (P.E First aid kit: eye wash cup, instant cold pack)
Sick bed in the reception room
Cold packs are located in the freezer in the kitchen
The First Aid Boxes should be checked regularly. (Suggestion: 3 times in the year, teachers should come with the class First Aid Box to one of the staff meeting and fill the missing kit.)
Reporting Incidents
All incidents, injuries, head injuries, ailments and treatments are reported by the teacher responding in the accident folder, kept in the office.
Bus attends must also be informed of any students under their care who have sustained an injury.
Parents are phoned if there are any doubts over the health or welfare of a student.
Any head incident (including apparently minor) is to be recorded and parents are informed by phone.
Administering First Aid
Hands should be washed before and after administering first aid. Disposable gloves should be worn.
Assess the situation and if necessary remove any potential danger.
Assess the injury or illness
Contact a 2nd staff member/office staff to supervise/remove the other students if required.
Defibrillators
Defibrillators are in the school building for use. The one in the main entrance can be used for external persons.
Green Field
The sports first aid bag or another first aid box must be taken on all green field trips
A fully-charged phone, with the school office number must be taken.
Out of School Trips
First aid box must be taken on all out of school trips
Two adults must accompany students on out of school trips. To ensure appropriate student ratios
All accompanying adults (parent/teachers) must be in possession of a fully-charged phone, with the school office number.
Emergency contact folders and student attendance must be taken on all out of school trips.
If an injury/illness occurs, follow the above outlined procedure and treatments.
Overnight Trips
Medication: Parents provide a description of the medication and instructions for dosage. One teacher on the trip is named as the person in charge of holding and dispensing the medication. The parents are required to meet with this teacher to explain the administration of the dosage in person before the trip.
Insurance Cards: Parents are required to provide a photocopy of the insurance card. We will not carry the insurance cards on trips. This is in line with the practice of other international schools. (see School trip health card explanation to parents Appendix 3)
Emergency Procedures: Before each trip, the parents fill in a form where they write out the student's name, birth date, and emergency contact information. This is to ensure teachers have the latest information. Teachers obtain the location and contact number for the nearest hospital. In the parents' information pack, they are provided with an emergency contact number for the teachers and the accommodation contact information, to be used only in the case of an emergency.
Children with medical needs Refer to Administering Medication Policy Students with asthma keep their puffers in their bags and they must be taken on out of school trips.
Admission of Children with Allergies
Parents need to provide information on their child’s allergy on the Student Health File
Parents must provide a description of the child’s past allergic reactions (including triggers and warning signs).
Parents must work with the school to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs in the classroom, during breaks, during school activities and in the school bus.
Parents must provide medical documentation, instructions and medications as directed by a physician.
If medication has to be used, it must be administered by the child. Staff must receive appropriate training and support from the child’s physician (any expenses will be paid by the parents).
Parents must provide the name and telephone number of the child’s primary carer and allergist
Allergy Communication
Upon enrolment the office will enter the information on the student list and inform the SENCO who will then liase with staff as needed.
Once a year all students should report about their allergy situation.
Medication
Administering medication at school
Teachers cannot make a diagnosis and they are not allowed to administer medication to children as they are not trained medical staff.
All medication required by a student needs to be self administered.
If a child gets a headache, a stomach ache, a toothache or a fever, the parents are informed and have to pick up the child at the earliest time possible. Non-prescribed medicines will not be administered in any case. In an emergency, first aid will be given and an emergency doctor will be called.