Every school has a legal and moral duty to keep students and staff safe during the day. First aid plays a significant role in meeting this duty. According to the Education (School Premises) Regulations 2012, every maintained school must provide a suitable room for medical treatment. The presence of proper first aid resources helps reduce the impact of accidents and supports the overall health and safety in schools.
Whether a child trips on the playground, a staff member suffers a medical emergency, or a visitor requires assistance, the ability to respond quickly is essential. By equipping your school correctly, you’re meeting regulations and creating a safer, more reassuring environment for everyone on-site.
Do you have the right first aid for school?
Ensure you have the right first aid supplies, including:
- Your school premises
- Any school vehicles
- Staff areas and common spaces.
What Should You Consider for Your School?
A complete safety setup means going beyond a basic first aid kit for school. Here’s what your school should consider:
- Equipment for your first aid room
- A life-saving defibrillator is always accessible
- Fire safety supplies, including fire blankets and the correct fire extinguishers for each room
- Additional first aid kits for playgrounds, science labs, and remote areas
- Personal protective equipment (gloves, aprons, face shields)
- Posters that support the first aid policy for schools and staff awareness
- Emergency signs for exits, procedures, and safety guidance
- Health and safety supplies for prevention and compliance
- Evacuation chairs for students or staff with mobility impairments
How many first aid kits should a school have?
Our free online first aid calculator is a useful guide in helping you determine how many first aid kits you need for your school.
Your risk assessment and assessment of your first aid needs will give you a more accurate quantity, as there are several specific factors to consider:
- How many sites and split levels does your school occupy? You need to ensure that there is a first aid kit within quick and easy reach of all areas.
- Are there remote areas, for example, distant sports fields or playgrounds?
- Are there any higher-risk areas, such as science labs or workshops? These areas may need extra kits or larger kits with additional contents.
- Are there any off-site activities? You should consider travel kits and sports kits for activities and trips away from school.
- Does your school have any vehicles? You should equip all vehicles with a suitable first aid kit.
What should your school first aid room contain?
Your first aid room doesn’t need to be used solely for first aid purposes, but it must be readily available when needed. This Space must be clean, accessible, and available when needed. Ideally, it should be situated near a toilet.
It should include:,
- A sink with hot and cold running water
- Drinking water and disposable cups
- Soap, paper towels, and sanitising wipes
- Storage for first aid materials, such as a first aid cabinet
- A lined, foot-operated bin for clinical waste
- An examination couch with wipe-clean surfaces
- A chair
- Communication tools like a landline phone or an emergency alert button
- A logbook for recording incidents attended by a first aider or appointed person.
Should your school have a defibrillator?
Cardiac arrest can affect anyone-children included-and the first few minutes are critical. Having a defibrillator readily available at school can significantly increase the likelihood of survival during those early moments.
AED Defibrillators are straightforward to use, with clear voice and screen instructions to guide each step. No formal training is required, but we recommend school staff take part in defibrillator training so they can act without hesitation when time matters most.
Defibrillators are suitable for use on children over eight years old. For younger children aged one to eight, paediatric pads or a paediatric-specific defibrillator is needed-unless the unit has a dedicated child mode. You can find more details in our Defibrillator Guide for Rescuers, which covers everything you need to know about using AEDs in emergencies.
Support Health and Safety in Schools with Training
Having the right kit is one part of your safety policy. Staff confidence matters too. Proper first aid training helps ensure calm, capable responses during emergencies.
We offer dedicated First Aid Courses for Schools, covering essential topics like:
- CPR
- Using an AED
- Treating wounds and minor injuries
- Managing asthma, allergies, and seizures
The training is ideal for teachers, teaching assistants, midday supervisors, and support staff.
