First Aid In Schools

My son says that the school, they do not support any type of first aid at their school. The only thing they can do is always a bandage and call the parents to come to school to apply an antibiotic cream. I am a nurse, did they really think I can or even will be able to leave my patients to the hospital to come to school and apply the cream to a simple cut or scratch? I also work 45 minutes from the school which means a total of 90 minutes of work to a scratch! I can not quit my job without having another nurse to take care of my patients, you can see the problems that entails. I think it would be so easy for someone in school to be trained in first aid. Does anyone know the laws for public schools in Michigan?

Personally, I do not know what the law of Michigan regarding the administration of first aid in public schools. But, you can contact the Board of Education and I am sure they can provide you with information.

I can tell you what: I was a paramedic, critical care for 10 years and during that time, I provided EMS for many sports teams, public schools as a proxy for the major leagues. In both settings, if a patient with a lesion (even something as minor as a scraped knee or elbow) wanted me to deal with, they should be transported by ambulance to the hospital. The only thing I was allowed to do is to assess the injury and give them peroxide, Neosporin and a band aid - but I could not physically touch them, unless they have agreed to be transported to a hospital.

The reasoning behind this is: responsibility. If someone in a school treats a child and the child is found to have serious injuries or even an allergic reaction to a first aid cream / ointment is applied, a parent of the child could return and continue the pants for anyone to "treat" their children.

I currently live in Texas and school systems have similar rules here. As a health professional, I think it is absurd. But on the other hand, know how people are rampant when it comes to trial filing, if I worked for the school system, I prefer to be protected. As a nurse, I'm sure you feel the same way.

The school your child may have some sort of waiver that you could sign it so they could "treat" your child in case of injury, but also relieve them of liability.

Good luck and I hope it helps!

if thats the case, then they should call 911 to come do it for you. It's a little sad. But the school only because they do not want the responsibility. If the parents came out and said, "Hey, he may do this for my child." then maybe the school would change their policy. They do not want to get sued.

I'm not from Michigan, but I think it would be a problem with the school policy rather than law. You may want to address the school board at their next meeting. Me, personally and professionally, do not see why they can not administer first aid. Most public schools in this area have a school nurse. If there is a problem that is beyond their education, EMS is called. I think everyone should be able to apply the cream. I want to see what their policy is, and then make an attempt to change it if necessary.

Paramedic in SC

You really think that our schools have the time and money to train people to be medical technicians? They can not even pay teachers, they are now. They can not afford insurance for medical malpractice (that would be necessary.)

I have your child gets a scrape, tell him to wash and put a bandage on it. Life goes on.

I'm sorry to say that in most of the 50 states, the POS are the same as far as medical school is concerned.Just yesterday we sent to the local elementary.