School Safety Regulations: Mandatory First Aid and Accident Prevention

This is explicitly mandated in Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDĐT issued by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), which heavily emphasizes building safe schools intrinsically linked to accident and injury prevention, alongside emergency response capabilities. Within this framework, first aid regulations play a paramount role. Proper first aid is the critical initial intervention when an incident occurs, stabilizing the victim and mitigating life-threatening risks before professional medical help arrives. Executing these first aid protocols correctly is not merely a legal obligation; it is a foundational pillar of school accident prevention.

1. Core Requirements of School Safety Regulations

According to Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDĐT, school safety regulations are built upon the principle of comprehensive management—meaning schools must not merely control isolated factors but holistically cover all institutional activities. The Circular clearly defines that building a safe school involves actionable content, implementation measures, inspections, evaluations, and the strict responsibilities of all involved parties.

A "Safe School" is defined as an institution where students, administrators, teachers, staff, and visitors are guaranteed physical and mental safety. It requires strict adherence to first aid protocols to minimize accident and injury risks. Based on Article 4 of the Circular, the core requirements are constructed across three distinct "layers of protection":

• Physical Protection Layer: Ensuring the absolute safety of facilities, equipment, vehicles, and learning materials. This foundational layer aims to eliminate direct hazards such as slip-and-fall risks, structural collapses, fire hazards, or unsafe educational equipment.

• Social and Behavioral Layer: Maintaining school security and order; preventing school violence, crime, and social evils; and guiding students to participate safely and healthily in the cyberspace environment. Mental health education and psychological counseling are also heavily emphasized.

• Skills and Awareness Layer: Educating students on vital survival skills, including drowning prevention, traffic safety, fire safety, disaster response, and prevention of falls, electrocution, and other common injuries. This sustainable factor ensures students are not just protected by the school but are fully capable of protecting themselves.

2. Requirements for the On-Site School First Aid System

Under Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDĐT, the capability to respond instantly to injuries on campus is a critical component of school safety. Specifically, the regulations require schools to proactively prepare adequate personnel, equipment, and standardized response protocols. This is not an optional recommendation; it is a mandatory legal requirement.

A standardized school first aid system must guarantee the following elements:

• Designated Facilities: A dedicated school medical room or first aid area appropriate for the school's scale and student population.

• Qualified Personnel: Designated medical staff or trained personnel capable of expertly handling initial medical emergencies.

• Adequate Supplies: Fully stocked first aid kits containing essential medical supplies such as sterile gauze, antiseptics, and trauma immobilization splints.

The regulations also mandate that this system remains in a constant state of readiness. Schools must conduct periodic inspections, promptly replenish depleted supplies, and evaluate practical response capabilities to ensure that equipment is not just present, but highly effective during an actual crisis.

3. The Vital Role of First Aid Skills Training in Schools

Training in safety and first aid must be systematically deployed through specialized workshops for administrators, teachers, and staff, alongside direct education for students.

For School Staff and Teachers: The regulations mandate targeted capacity-building workshops focusing on school safety, accident prevention, and basic first aid. Key personnel—such as school nurses, physical education (PE) teachers, and homeroom teachers—must be prioritized. The training curriculum must strictly align with the realities of the school environment, focusing on:

• Rapid recognition of dangerous situations (falls, blunt trauma, choking, sports injuries).

• Clearing airway obstructions, particularly in younger students.

• Proper bleeding control and wound bandaging to prevent severe blood loss.

• Temporary immobilization of suspected bone fractures or spinal injuries.

• Basic respiratory support (CPR) and stabilizing the victim while awaiting paramedics.

Crucial Note: Practical, hands-on training is mandatory. Practicing on medical manikins through simulated scenarios helps teachers build muscle memory and drastically reduces panic during real-life emergencies.

For Students: First aid regulations require integrating safety skills directly into the academic curriculum. This covers security, violence prevention, drowning prevention, traffic safety, fire safety, and responses to common accidents (falls, electrocution, burns, poisoning). Schools are encouraged to establish student-led clubs or response teams, allowing students to proactively practice these skills and support one another. By forming these habits early, students learn a proactive, preventative approach—mitigating risks at the root rather than merely reacting to accidents.

4. Proactive School Accident Prevention

According to Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDĐT, preventing school accidents must be proactive, meticulously planned, and integrated into the school's overarching management operations.

• Strategic Planning and Monitoring: Schools must develop annual safety plans that clearly identify required resources, implementation roadmaps, and specific safety criteria. Concurrently, a rigorous monitoring and inspection system must be established to detect safety hazards early and rectify them before accidents occur.

• Comprehensive Scope: Preventive measures and emergency protocols must cover all scenarios, including educational activities and field trips taking place outside the school campus.

• Communication and Safety Culture: Information dissemination is a core focus. Schools must utilize diverse, tech-driven communication channels to educate the community on safety protocols. Establishing feedback mechanisms, such as suggestion boxes or emergency hotlines, ensures arising issues are addressed instantly.

By actively promoting positive role models and effective safety initiatives, educational institutions can successfully cultivate an unshakable culture of safety.