Hazards At School

My youngest injured herself on an obvious hazard at school. A few Days Later I asked the school principal to reevaluate the hazard, she agreed. I stressed I did not have a solution but I wanted the safety issue discussed. The principal agreed said she was the Health and Safety Representative for the school. Later she told me that the Safety Committee Members decided to remove the hazard. Later a teacher, the principle claimed was on this committee told me she knew nothing about this issue or the committee.

Two years later my child was again was injured, in a freak accident, this time not one one staff member on site had Firs Aaid, this information was kept from me. The school secretary kept saying she did not get around to making a list of people with First Aid/ CPR, not saying no one had the training at the school to make the list.

A teacher told me that not one staff had first aid training, other than the school principle (who was out of the building at the time). The trustees thought this was a union issue not a safety issue, so they did not help, but knew of the issue.

Later I found out that training was indeed a safety issue (covered by WISB Safety Laws). I later found documents online claiming Halton schools obeyed WSIB guidelines when it came to staff being trained in First Aid/ CPR that were released shortly after the second injury.

After telling parents of the issues, dozens of parents complained or asked questions at the school, only then did the school act, in training staff. I have no idea if one of the parents told WSIB, or if the injury report from the school got to the WBSB. Perhaps the problem reached the board level somehow, and that's why Halton made the claim the laws were being meet.

The Halton District Catholic School Board updated their Operation Policy on First Aid:
The Halton Catholic District School Board will sponsor the following number of employees for each site to receive Standard First Aid and C.P.R./A.E.D. with Administrator approval:
• Elementary Schools - 2 employees
• Elementary Schools over 700 staff and students - 3 employees
• Elementary Schools over 900 staff and students - 4 employees
• Secondary Schools - 4 employees
• Central Office Sites - 2 employees 2. Each school site will meet the requirements of WSIB First Aid Regulation 1101 relating to first aid equipment, facilities and trained personnel

The Halton District School Board Letter:
Currently, the Human Resources Department trains staff in Standard First Aid in order to be compliant with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. The minimum training requires two staff are trained in every elementary school and three staff in every secondary school and administrative office. Standard First Aid training is a two day course that includes CPR, defibrillator and emergency first aid.

Concussion Identification Management Policy

Halton District School Board Concussion Protocol.

Administrative Procedure: Concussion Protocol. Halton District School Board

Emergency First Aid Training In order to supplement the Standard First Aid Training required to meet the terms of the WSIB legislation, the Board will offer the one day Emergency First Aid training, in addition to that identified in #1 above, to:
i. 3 full time employees for each elementary school
ii. 2 full time employees of secondary school
iii. 3 full time employees of each administrative facility

ONTARIO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH CONCUSSIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE States:
Ministry of Education funding to school districts to support the full implementation of Provincial Policy Memorandum 158 ("PPM 158"), including the costs associated with Ontario Physical and Health Education Association safety guidelines and coaching/first aid certifications;

Rowan's Law

Read when When not one teacher at my kids school had CPR/ first aid training My child suffered an injury, no one was trained how to handle the injury, or recognize a concussion, or any other medical situation, for that matter.

See Also: Ontario Laws First Aid and CPR