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[Nickbat]

I am not normally too worried about the health scare stories that appear in the press, but this one did raise my concerns:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1904558/Playground-superbug-can-kill-children-within-days.html

I checked with my local primary school, where my daughter attends, and also the secondary school of which I am a governor.

I was somewhat shocked to discover that first-aiders are NOT ALLOWED to administer antiseptics to cuts and grazes, in case a child should suffer an allergic reaction.  

This is completely against the advice quoted in the article from the Health Protection Agency which says "...is always good practice to maintain appropriate hygiene measures, which include proper cleansing and disinfection of cuts and minor wounds."

I have the name of the Director of Childrens Services for the London Borough of Barnet and he will shortly be receiving a letter from me. I cannot believe that the small risk of an allergy outweighs the benefits of antispetics in helping to prevent things like septicemia and this new frightening virus.

I would urge all parents of young children to check on the policies at their local schools.

Nick  

[Kevin Wood]

Is the application of common sense totally outlawed these days?  

I don't remember kids dropping dead in the playground with anaphylactic shock when I was at school. I remember plenty of grazed knees though.

In fact, there are those who say the reason that allergies are such an issue these days is because kids are molly-coddled in homes that are doused with bleach twice daily rather than down the bottom of the garden making mud pies where they should be!

Kevin

[Martin_1962]

Moderation is the answer.

Houses clean but not disinfected.

Clean cuts ect - disinfect if necessary - then a plaster

[Gaffers]

As a medical manager I can comment slightly on this.  As absurd as it sounds they may be right to not put antiseptic on wounds.  I'll explain:

If they do not have a proper anaphylaxis kit and the necessary qualifications to use it they cannot even administer an asprin!  Crazy I know but once they give them the pill to swallow or put a cream on their skin they are responsible for what happens after that.  Anaphylaxis can kill in minutes which means the risk from an ambulance being delayed etc is too high to take.

To note as well; to be competant in administering anaphylaxis (alergic reaction) procedures you have to be able to administer a 1/1000mg shot of adrenaline into the vein and be able to perform a Tracheotomy.  Having trained to do the latter it aint as easy as in the films, you can so easily cut the jugular if you get it wrong!  CPR is only effective if you can open up the throat post allergic reaction otherwise you may as well rush them to Emergency.  

In short, a school being able to afford someone sufficently qualified is very remote!

Just my 2p  

[Kevin Wood]

Surely the consequences of an allergic reaction have to be balanced by the probability of a pupil actually being allergic to the medication though (which must be remote)?

As someone who's allergic to Aspirin I see it as my responsibility to make that fact known to those around me, rather than for them to switch off their common sense for fear of me suing them.

Kevin

[Andyb]

wife is a qualified childminder with nvq and advanced first aid
just another note
they cant use plasters without parents permission
no medication allowed inc calpol or similar without permission
no asprin
so for cuts and alike
the wife has to use her  magic sponge (just like football)
which is just  plane water
if the child has a fevor cold sponge

[Gaffers]

Surely the consequences of an allergic reaction have to be balanced by the probability of a pupil actually being allergic to the medication though (which must be remote)?

As someone who's allergic to Aspirin I see it as my responsibility to make that fact known to those around me, rather than for them to switch off their common sense for fear of me suing them.

Kevin

Wrong!

This all falls out from H+S laws, further under pinned by the new Corporate Manslaughter Act which came into effect this month.

Common sense went out the window a long time ago and has been replaced with pish!

[Nickbat]

Surely the consequences of an allergic reaction have to be balanced by the probability of a pupil actually being allergic to the medication though (which must be remote)?

As someone who's allergic to Aspirin I see it as my responsibility to make that fact known to those around me, rather than for them to switch off their common sense for fear of me suing them.

Kevin

Wrong!

This all falls out from H+S laws, further under pinned by the new Corporate Manslaughter Act which came into effect this month.

Common sense went out the window a long time ago and has been replaced with pish!

Yes, I'd heard about that. But presumably, quoting from my original post, if the Health Protection Agency Health Protection Agency says it "...is always good practice to maintain appropriate hygiene measures, which include proper cleansing and disinfection of cuts and minor wounds.", then a failure to follow that good practice would be in itself a dereliction of care...

Law of Unintended Consequences, methinks.

[Kevin Wood]

Common sense went out the window a long time ago and has been replaced with pish!

Ahh, OK. Confirms my observations then. It's not just me going mad.  

Kevin

[Gaffers]

Common sense went out the window a long time ago and has been replaced with pish!

Ahh, OK. Confirms my observations then. It's not just me going mad.  

Kevin

Yup before I try and save someone's life I have to think if I am allowed to by law!  Its a disgrace!!x

[Entwood]

so .. if I understand it .. so far ....

Child falls over grazes knee ....

Teacher treats with antiseptic - child has a reaction - teacher gets sued.

Teacher doesn't treat with antiseptic - child gets septiceamia - teacher gets sued

Teacher washes graze - child complains of scalding - teacher gets sued

Teacher ignores graze - child complains - teacher gets sued

and I haven't even started on ... what if child is female / teacher is male .. is teacher even allowed to look at the knee ?? I mean .. there could be a sexual motive couldn't there ........

 :-/ :-/ :-/

[Gaffers]

so .. if I understand it .. so far ....

Child falls over grazes knee ....

Teacher treats with antiseptic - child has a reaction - teacher gets sued.

Teacher doesn't treat with antiseptic - child gets septiceamia - teacher gets sued

Teacher washes graze - child complains of scalding - teacher gets sued

Teacher ignores graze - child complains - teacher gets sued

 :-/ :-/ :-/

Pretty much, unless a full H+S survey has been undertaken and you follow that to the T, then you rass is covered, which often means only doing something if there is an immediate threat to life..