INFECTIOUS DISEASES INCLUDING HIV/AIDS and OTHER BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES
Rationale:
1. To minimise the spread of infectious disease and provide a safe physical and emotional environment for students and staff.
2. A student’s health should not affect their right to an education.
3. A student with HIV/AIDS and/or hepatitis should be able to participate in all activities within the school to the extent that their health permits. These students have the right to privacy. In dealing with any injury, all students should be treated as if they have a blood borne virus.
Purpose:
1. To provide clear guidelines for staff and caregivers as to procedures and expulsion times for infectious diseases.
2. To promote safe practices relating to infectious diseases
3. To provide the necessary equipment to ensure that these safe practices are possible.
4. To keep the school community informed and updated with any relevant information regarding infectious diseases at our school. This information sharing will in no way compromise the confidentiality and privacy of the member(s) of the community concerned. Confidentiality and privacy will always be a priority in these matters.
5. To utilise any health professionals and resources that are available to ensure accurate information and safe practices are provided.
6. To promote the benefits of immunisation to the school community with the aim of achieving the highest level of immunisation possible.
Guidelines:
1. A child’s health status will not affect their right to an education.
2. All blood should be treated as though it were infectious.
3. Staff will be able to access information regarding relevant infectious diseases.
4. In the event of a child being unwell at school the following will apply:
4.1 Every effort will be made to contact the caregiver/whanau member and appropriate steps will be taken to care for the child until they are collected.
4.2 Parents/caregivers of children who appear to have a high temperature will automatically be notified.
5. Children with repeated bouts of vomiting and/or diarrhoea should not attend school for 24 hours
after the last vomit or diarrhoea.
6. Policy and documentation will be reviewed annually for accuracy and relevance.
GUIDELINES FOR INFECTION CONTROL OF HIV/AIDS AND OTHER BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES IN SCHOOLS
1. Before treating a child who is bleeding, make sure that you cover any cuts or abrasions with a water-proof dressing.
2. Wear gloves for all procedures
3. Don’t delay treatment of a child who is bleeding UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES because gloves are not immediately available. Use an absorbent barrier such as a towel, paper towel, handkerchief etc for an actively bleeding child.
4. Dispose of used gloves, soiled dressings, sanitary towels, tissues etc in a place where they will not be handled e.g. in bags which are burned or buried.
5. Wipe clean and then sterilise all surfaces and instruments contaminated with blood. Make sure you use an effective disinfectant e.g.one volume of household bleach to 9 volumes of household water.
6. Soak surfaces for 20 minutes and then wipe dry. Prepare a fresh solution immediately before you want to use it.
7. Wash hands thoroughly when you have finished. Hand washing is usually adequate for non-blood secretions but eh above precautions (i.e. gloves etc) can also be used.
8. Make sure that first aid kits include disposable gloves, disposable wipes or towels, plastic bags for contaminated waste, a skin disinfectant and a bleach solution (or hypochlorite solution/or granules) with instructions for use.
Hygiene Procedures:
o School staff to be responsible for administering first aid for open cuts, sores, wounds etc.
o Incident to be recorded in appropriate book in sick bay
o Wipe down the benches and other bloodied areas with cold or tepid tap water and then with household bleach e.g. Janola freshly diluted (1 part Janola to 9 parts of water).
o Caretaker to attend to any contaminated areas.
o Any contaminated bedding is to b washed separately in hot water with a 10% bleach solution.
Toileting:
Staff will not be involved in toileting children. Parents will be contacted if and when children soil or wet themselves.
Nose bleeds:
Child to apply pressure to own nose until staff member can apply suitable first aid.
Drinking fountains:
These are to be regularly maintained by the caretaker to enhance hygiene by ensuring each fountain has adequate water pressure so that mouths don’t come in contact with water outlets.
Musical instruments: (wood wind etc):
All mouthpieces to be removed and placed in a solution of bleach (e.g. Janola 1 part to 9 parts water) SOLUTION TO BE MADE FRESH DAILY.
Field trips:
Adequately stocked portable first aid equipment including gloves, must accompany each group.
Date of Approval:______________ Chairperson:________________________________
Date of Review:_______________ TWO YEAR REVIEW