Schools told to prepare child emergency medical response plan, state govt tells Kerala HC
The guidelines issued by the general education department, dated May 30, further instruct schools to proactively coordinate with the nearest primary health centre or taluk hospital to ensure the availability of anti-venom and paediatric medical care in critical situations. Schools must maintain updated lists of hospitals equipped with anti-venom facilities. Additionally, schools are directed to coordinate with the forest department to identify and engage authorised snake catchers or handlers for emergency snake removal operations.
Schools must also conduct thorough inspections of their premises to identify and seal potential entry points for snakes, insects and other reptiles. This includes checking boundary walls, storage areas, gardens and all structures for gaps, holes, or overgrown vegetation that may harbour such threats.
The state made these submissions in response to petitions seeking a directive to make paediatric ICUs and ventilators available in all district, taluk and general hospitals, in light of the classroom snakebite death in Wayanad in 2019.
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At an earlier hearing, the court had asked the state to detail the measures taken to prevent such incidents in future, prompting this submission by the additional director of general education.
The guidelines further state that schools must conduct mock drills to ensure preparedness for emergencies such as fire, flood, or earthquake, in consultation with the district disaster management authority and the local self-govt. Every school head must also ensure that at least two staff members are trained in basic first aid, including CPR and emergency wound care, in consultation with the nearest hospital.
The contact details of nearby hospitals and public health officers must be prominently displayed within the school premises, along with the contact information for ambulance services, as per the guidelines.
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