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Accident Policy V4

 

References:

Ministry of Health, 1997, Nga Kupu Oranga, Healthy Messages; a health and safety resource for early childhood services. 

Te Whāriki:

Mana Atua/Well-being - Goal 1: Tamariki/children experience an environment where their health is promoted.

Purpose:

The purpose of this operational policy is to keep tamariki and adults safe by meeting Licensing Criteria HS121

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Statement of Intent:

At Windsor Montessori, we are committed to maintaining the wellbeing of our tamariki by creating a safe and healthy environment and acting urgently and effectively to ensure the health and well-being of all tamariki.

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Our Aim:

We will ensure tamariki, parents/whānau/caregivers and kaiako are aware of health and safety issues and know how to minimise hazards and risks to enable tamariki in our care to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.

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Injury Prevention Procedure

First Aid:

A First Aid Kit will be kept in an easily accessible location (in the kitchen cupboard) and will be stocked in accordance with Appendix 1 of the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres, 2008. This will be checked and replenished regularly (at least once a term)

All kaiako have current First Aid training and all First Aid certificates are visibly displayed alongside kaiako photos and qualifications. 

  • Kaiako take account of injury prevention in the teaching layout, daily activities and education of tamariki at the preschool.

  • Tamariki are supervised at all times. (Supervision Policy)

  • Kaiako are trained in First Aid and in Hazard Identification Management.

  • Kaiako are to notify any maintenance needs to the Head Kaiako.

  • Prompt action will be taken on dangerous or urgent repair work and programmes of other maintenance work. All maintenance work is recorded.

  • Our Hazard Management approach is to eliminate, isolate or minimise hazards in the preschool. Kaiako are trained to do these things.

  • Hazard and accident records are analysed termly. The Head Kaiako will act on the outcomes of these analyses.

  • Kaiako are appointed to take care of any animals at the preschool. (Animal Policy)

  • Doors to the adult toilet and outside office are to be closed at all times to ensure tamariki do not have access to these areas.

  • Cupboards, such as resource, art and kitchen cupboards, will be inaccessible to tamariki at all times.

  • All chemicals are stored in marked containers and kept out of reach of tamariki at all times. This includes all cleaning products. 

  • Kaiako are vigilant about identifying hazards, such as water spills. Any spills are cleaned up immediately.

  • Hot drinks are consumed away from where they could potentially spill.

  • Tamariki are to remain seated when eating and will be supervised at all times by kaiako.

  • Kaiako are to wear gloves at all times when blood is present.

  • The learning environment is checked daily to identify, minimise and isolate hazards.

  • The playground is checked daily for vandalism, dangerous objects and animal droppings.

  • Hazards are recorded on the Daily Hazard Checklist and the Hazard/Risk Register Form to then be followed up by the Head Kaiako

 

Child Injury and Accident Procedure

General: 

The Head Kaiako will ensure that all tamariki records have both parents/whānau/caregivers current contact numbers and two emergency contacts.

Non Serious Injury:

  • In the event of an injury to a tamaiti/child, a first aid trained kaiako will assess the injury and give the necessary First Aid.

  • The Accident Register will be completed and the parents/whānau/caregiver will be notified of the incident upon collecting their tamaiti.

  • The parent/whānau/caregiver will be asked to sign the Accident Register and will be given a copy of this document. 

  • In the situation that a tamaiti receives a bump/graze to the face/head that is deemed not serious but noticeably visible, the parent/whānau/caregiver may be contacted and informed of the incident prior to collecting their tamaiti at the discretion of Kaiako. The purpose of this phone call is to ensure that parents/whānau/caregiver is notified of the injury and therefore not surprised or upset when they first see the injury. 

  • An ice pack wrapped in a paper towel will be held to the bump/graze on the head of the tamaiti for up to 20 minutes.

  • If it is a burn, the injured area will be put under cold running water immediately for at least 10 minutes.

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Serious Injury:

  • If deemed to be serious, first aid will be administered and the parents/whānau/caregiver of the tamaiti will be contacted to collect their tamaiti to take them to their doctor.

  • A kaiako will comfort the tamaiti and continue to administer First Aid until the parent/whānau/caregiver arrives.

  • The Accident Register will be completed and the parent/whānau/caregiver will be asked to sign this upon collecting their tamaiti, and will be given a copy of this document.

  • If the Head Kaiako deems the injury to be very serious and in need of urgent medical attention, kaiako will comfort the tamaiti and administer first aid, whilst another kaiako calls for an ambulance.

  • This kaiako will then immediately contact the parents/whānau/caregiver of the tamaiti to notify them of the incident and they will be asked to make their way to the preschool immediately.

  • In the situation that an ambulance is required and needs to take the tamaiti to hospital and the parents/whānau/caregiver have not yet arrived, they will be contacted and asked to meet their tamaiti at the hospital.

  • A kaiako will accompany the tamaiti in the ambulance until the parents/whānau/caregiver arrives. If the ratio does not support this, parent/support person who is on our emergency contact list will be immediately contacted. (See steps below)

  • Kaiako will write a detailed account of events that will be kept on file at the preschool.

  • This same kaiako will also complete the Accident Register and ask the parent/whānau/caregiver to sign it at the earliest possible convenience and ensure they receive a copy. 

  • If there is serious harm or a significant event occurs (defined under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 2015), the Head Kaiako will report the incident to Worksafe New Zealand as soon as possible and send a completed Accident Form to them within seven days.

  • The Head Kaiako will also notify the Ministry of Education to inform them of the event.

Serious Injury Procedure

Administer First Aid / Call ambulance

Call parents (Emergency contact list behind sign in sheet and on wall in office)

Call Cynthia if she is out of the office

If parents are uncontactable, contact parent/helper on emergency support list (list will be in the office)

Complete Incident Report to be sent to WorkSafe and notification to the Ministry

 

Incident Procedure

In the event that an investigation is required, the following process will be followed:

  • The kaiako most involved with the incident will document what occurred.

  • The Head Kaiako will go over the report with kaiako to:

  1. Identify key triggers to the incident

  2. Minimise the hazard

  3. Add this hazard to the Hazard Identification Register if required

  4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the procedures and make changes if required

  5. Store all information in the Health and Safety file in the office​

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Date: May 2025

Review date: May 2027

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Which Policy
Parent
Staff
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