Guidelines for Accidents & Illness

The Georgia 4-H Program takes seriously it's obligation to provide responsible and reasonable care for the youth in it's care.  The Safety and First Aid guidelines established are designed to aid adults chaperoning youth in handling accident, illness and emergency situations.

For the purpose of this guide:
      an adult leader is an Extension staff member, school teacher, volunteer and/or chaperone accompanying and supervising
      the 4-H'er during his/her involvement in the program.

     A 4-H event includes but is not limited to 4-H summer camp, conferences, district project achievements, and other 4-H
    activities.

Orientation
Each event will begin with an orientation session.  Orientation will include:

• introduction of event coordinators and other key contact people
• identification for the group of emergency personnel (Emergency personnel are considered to be doctors, nurses, EMT's and  first responders who are attending the event).  This identification process will be done to insure that leaders know who is qualified to work with emergency situations should they arise.
• review of procedures for accidents, injuries, emergencies and discipline situations including maps to the hospital or medical treatment facility.

General Care & First Aid
1) Adults leaders  are responsible for the care of program participants.  Care includes the administering of routine prescription  medications and treatment of minor injuries. We recommend that all medications be locked in a container in the chaperone's room.

2)  Most 4-H Center Counselors and Environmental Educators are trained in First Aid and CPR.  4-H staff will assist in any situation in which they are trained; however, 4-H staff actions will be limited to their training.  If a nurse is provided , he/she is available for medical situations, but will not be expected to administer routine medications.

3) All 4-H Centers have a First Aid station set up for minor injuries.  The First Aid station will consist of soap, water, clean bandages and latex gloves.  Any other medications and ointments will be kept in a locked cabinet.  Only 4-H center staff and adult leaders will have access to the additional medication.  During activities held at locations other than 4-H Centers, the event coordinator will establish a First Aid station for minor injuries.  The station will be set up in an area with soap, water, clean bandages & latex gloves.  Other medication and ointment may also be available.

4) If participants need further over the counter medication, such as aspirin, pepto bismol or the generic equivalents,  4-H Centers may have a limited supply of over the counter medications that may be provided upon  the request of adult leader.   Adult leaders must obtain  parental permission prior to administering all medications (including aspirin, pepto, etc) unless the medication was prescribed or administered by medical personnel while at the event.   Events at locations other than 4-H Centers may or may not supply over the counter medications.

5) All medical treatment and emergency actions taken must be kept in a log.  The log will be kept with the First Aid Station.  The adult leader is responsible to insure that the action is logged.  The adult leader is responsible for completing an accident report and sending the report to the appropriate individuals.
 

Emergency Medical Situations
1) In the event of an emergency medical situation,  all non-emergency trained  adult leaders will clear the scene of all participants and then organize an activity to entertain the youth.

2) 4-H Center personnel should be notified immediately of any emergency medical situation.  In cases where practical, 4-H Center staff will be responsible for calling an ambulance if necessary.  Every effort should be made to contact the 4-H event coordinator immediately following the contact of Center personnel.

3) Non-ambulatory transport is the responsibility of the adult leader.  Maps to the nearest hospital will be provided at all 4-H Centers and by 4-H event coordinators.

4) All medical treatment and emergency actions taken must be kept in a log.  The log will be kept with the First Aid Station.  The adult leader is responsible to insure that the action is logged.  The adult leader is responsible for completing an accident report and sending the report to the appropriate individuals.

5) If a situation is deemed serious by the 4-H staff, a serious incident report will be filed and sent to the appropriate individuals ASAP.

	Accident Report Form (pdf)
	Medical Log & Phone Logs (pdf)
	Serious Incident Report

	Return to 4-H Policy & Procedure Main Page
	Return to 4-H Guidebook Main Page
	Return to Main Georgia 4-H Webpage