Resources
Emergency response procedures - injury
In the event of a serious injury (or illness) to a student or staff member:
- Provide appropriate first aid assistance for the injured person.
- Depending on the circumstances, contact ambulance, medical practitioner and/or the police (from the contact list carried by the leader). Do not delay in the hope that the person will recover.
- Protect and comfort the non-injured students.
- Notify the principal or school contact person who should notify the Department of Education's twenty four-hour emergency communication centre , the regional office, and the parents of all students, see: Excursion support - communication
- N.B. As the media often reports on situations without full or correct details, it is important that the parents of all students are aware of the incident.
- Provide students and adults with appropriate first aid.
- Make sure the entire group is safe and warm.
- Keep detailed notes for a comprehensive report of the injury and incident, which must be retained by the school for purposes of legal liability.
- If the media becomes involved, handle them sensitively, isolating the students from reporters and cameras.
- If the police have attended, consider requesting the police officer in charge to inform and handle the media.
- For major incidents, assistance from police media liaison can be requested.
- In the case of a fatality, it is the role of the police, acting for the coroner, to contact the family.
After the event:
- Post-trauma counselling for students and supervising adults is important and should be organised through the Department of Education regional office.
- Record and file details of the incident that led to the injury and the resultant action.
- Consider what changes may need to be made through safety and risk management and planning for future activities.
More information
For more information about injury emergency management, see: