Term 2 First Aid Check-List: Is Your School Fully Compliant and Prepared?
Term 2 First Aid Check-List: Is Your School Fully Compliant and Prepared?
As Term 2 kicks off across Australian schools, the energy of the academic year returns in full force. With bustling classrooms, sports days, excursions, and packed calendars, it’s easy to overlook one of the most essential parts of school safety: your first aid systems. But now is the ideal time to pause and conduct a comprehensive review of your first aid kits, rooms, and procedures.
Being well-prepared is more than a legal necessity—it’s about ensuring the health and wellbeing of every student and staff member on your campus. Whether it’s a scraped knee on the playground, an allergic reaction during lunch, or a more serious medical emergency, readiness matters. The Department of Education has updated its 2025 first aid guidelines, making it more critical than ever for schools to assess their compliance and restock accordingly.
Why First Aid Matters More Than Ever
Children are naturally active and curious, which means injuries and health incidents are a regular part of school life. In fact, schools are one of the most common places where minor injuries and sudden illnesses occur. But when systems aren’t properly maintained, a small oversight—like an expired EpiPen or missing bandages—can quickly become a major safety risk.
Beyond compliance, having appropriate first aid resources supports a positive school culture. Staff can respond confidently, parents trust that their children are in safe hands, and students feel secure in their learning environment.
What’s Required Under the 2025 Guidelines?
The Department of Education’s 2025 updates focus on clarity, accountability, and risk-based planning. These guidelines apply to all Australian schools, including independent and government institutions, regardless of size or location.
Minimum first aid compliance includes:
- At least one major first aid kit located in a designated first aid room or sick bay
- At least one portable kit for use during yard duty, excursions, camps, and offsite activities
- Strict separation of medications (including those provided by parents) from general first aid supplies
Additionally, schools must ensure their first aid supplies reflect a thorough First Aid Risk Assessment, which should consider:
- Total number of students and staff
- Types of activities regularly conducted
- Physical layout of the campus and accessibility to emergency services
How Many Kits Does Your School Need?
Use the following Department of Education guide to ensure you’re meeting the minimum requirement based on your student and staff numbers:
| Total Staff & Students | First Aid Kits Required |
|---|---|
| Less than 50 | 1 kit |
| 50 to 199 | 4 kits |
| 200 to 399 | 6 kits |
| 400 to 599 | 8 kits |
| 600 to 799 | 10 kits + first aid room |
| 800 to 999 | 12 kits + first aid room |
| 1000+ | 12 kits + 1 extra per 100 |
💡 Remote schools or those regularly offsite should carry 2 additional kits per category to account for delayed emergency access.
First Aid Rooms vs Sick Bays
While not every school has the space for a full first aid room, it’s best practice to provide one where possible. A dedicated room enables privacy, appropriate treatment, and safer infection control.
A compliant first aid room should have:
- Hot and cold water supply
- PPE supplies: gloves, apron/gown, eye protection
- A resuscitation mask
- Power outlets and access to a phone
- Sharps disposal system, sanitary bin, and biohazard waste container
- A suitable first aid kit
- Workbench, cupboards, storage trolley
- A stretcher, chair, desk, and pillows/blankets
- Clear display of emergency numbers and first aid contact info
📝 Tip: Even without a full room, schools should identify a consistent “sick bay” area that meets as many of these criteria as possible.
Regular Inspections and Compliance Tracking
To stay audit-ready and genuinely prepared, schools must treat first aid as a living system—not a one-time setup.
Principals or their designated health and safety officers should schedule regular inspections of:
- First aid kit contents
- Expiry dates for items like Epipens, Ventolin, saline, and ointments
- Cleanliness and accessibility of first aid spaces
We recommend:
- Using a First Aid Kit Contents Checklist every term
- Keeping a stocktake log and restock sheet in each kit
- Assigning a staff member to review inventory monthly
- Including first aid reviews in your school’s OHS or wellbeing calendar
✅ Download a full contents checklist here: First Aid Kit Checklist PDF
What’s Trending in School Restocks This Term?
At Medical Solution, we supply thousands of Australian schools with restock essentials. Here’s what’s topping the list in Term 2:
- Instant cold packs for sprains and playground bumps
- Reusable gel packs (hot/cold) for sick bays and nurse rooms
- Vomit bags and absorbent granules (vomit sand)
- Ventolin, spacers, and EpiPens for asthma and allergy management
- Adhesive bandages, gauze pads, and island dressings
- Excursion-ready first aid kits
- Blood and body fluid spill kits
💡 Need a custom pack for excursions, yard duty, or staff events? We can tailor kits to your school’s risk profile.
Real Support, Real Compliance
Let’s face it — staying compliant isn’t always easy. Rules change, staff get busy, and stock disappears faster than expected. That’s where we come in.
Medical Solution offers:
- Free phone support from experienced first aid consultants
- Custom quotes for bulk kit restocking
- A Defibrillator Register to track AED locations and battery expiry
- Automated expiry reminders (even if your AED wasn’t purchased from us)
- Help interpreting the 2025 guidelines for your specific campus
We know that when you’re running a school, first aid might not always be top-of-mind—but it absolutely should be there when it counts.
Need Help Getting Started?
Whether you’re a school nurse, principal, business manager or wellbeing coordinator, we’re here to help you take control of your first aid readiness.
📞 Call 1300 136 158
📧 Email info@medicalsolution.com.au
Let’s make Term 2 safer, smarter, and more stress-free — for your team, your students, and your whole school community.
☕ Bonus Tip: Keep a spare first aid kit in the staffroom. You never know when someone might need a Band-Aid… or a coffee break!