AIM
Carers will ensure immediate action and appropriate services and care are provided in a medical or dental emergency or accident involving a carer, child, other staff member, volunteer or visitor.
RATIONALE
In a medical or dental emergency or an accident involving a staff member, child or visitor, the carer has a duty of care to take immediate action and provide appropriate services or care to prevent further injury or death.
STRATEGIES
To ensure immediate action, appropriate services and care are provided in a medical or dental emergency or accident, carers should:
Be aware of their obligations under the Regulation in relation to obtaining authority from each child’s parent or guardian for emergency medical, dental and other treatment.
Discuss with families their responsibility in covering any expenses arising from emergency treatment, and their responsibility in providing adequate information on:
- child’s health
- past and current medical history and any allergies
- any medications they are taking
- recommended medical and dental emergency or action plans
On enrolment, ensure parent or a legal guardian has given written authorisation for any carer or staff of the service to seek urgent medical, dental, hospital treatment, ambulance service, urgent assistance from another person or body nominated by the parent, if a child is ill or injured while in care.
Any medical or dental treatment of the child must, if practicable, be carried out by the medical practitioner or dentist nominated by the parent. This does not, however, limit the authority of a medical practitioner or dentist to carry out emergency medical or dental treatment on a child without the consent of the child’s parent.
Have a current approved First Aid qualification as described by the Regulation.
In any emergency not able to be dealt with under First Aid, call the ambulance service on 000.
If any emergency treatment has been sought, inform the parent or family as soon as possible, so they can take over responsibility of care of the child and decide on further action to taken.
Notify the family as soon as practically possible, request they or a responsible person nominated by the family, pick up, take charge of the child and take to the child’s doctor.
Keep the child under adult supervision until the child’s family or a responsible person with consent to take charge of the child arrives, if required, provide appropriate first aid.
If medication is required in an emergency without prior consent of the child’s parent of legal guardian, make every attempt to secure consent from a parent or legal guardian or consent from a registered medical practitioner.
Ensure that a family member or other nominated responsible person is notified of any medication administered in an emergency.
Notify the Scheme Co-ordinator in the event of hospitalisation or death of a child while in care in accordance with the Regulation. The authorised supervisor is required to ensure that the parent of the child and the Director-General of Community Services be informed in accordance with the Regulation.
Ensure confidentiality of any personal or health related information obtained by carers or other staff member in relation to children, children’s parents and families.
REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS AND OTHER STANDARDS
NSW Children’s Services Regulation 2004
National Childcare Accreditation Council Quality Practices Guide 2nd edition 2004 Family Day Care Quality Assurance,
www.ncac.gov.au
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and Regulations 2001 (NSW)
Staying Healthy in Child Care, NHMRC 2001
www.health.gov.au/nhmrc/
