Emergency handover, recording, debrief and readiness

Emergency care continues after the ambulance leaves. The home must hand over clearly, record what happened, support distressed children and staff, replace used equipment and check whether procedures should change. In children's homes this follow-up matters because the same children and staff remain together after the event.

What a good handover includes

• What happened and when it started.
• What staff saw first.
• What treatment or first aid was given.
• What changed while waiting for the ambulance.
• What plans, medicines or health conditions are relevant.

Recording after the emergency

• Record facts, times and actions clearly.
• Keep medicine packets, auto-injectors or other relevant items if needed for handover.
• Record who was present and which professionals were contacted.
• Make sure the next shift gets the right information.
• Follow local safeguarding or notification routes where the incident also raises wider concern.

Readiness before the next emergency

• Replace used items in the first-aid kit.
• Check the AED, if the home has one.
• Review individual emergency care plans for relevance and access.
• Support staff and children emotionally after a frightening incident.
• Use debrief to improve the system, not to create blame.

Manager focus: review, support and readiness

A strong emergency response includes what happens after the ambulance doors close.