The Dangers of Bandage Clips
There have been reports of young people using bandage clips for self-harm
Handsam has received a small number of reports from schools of secondary-age pupils using bandage clips to self-harm.
Pupils have been using the clips included with first aid bandages to self-harm by cutting or grazing themselves on their forearms with the sharp edges of the clips.
Safeguarding Children
Certain pupils from certain circumstances may be more vulnerable to self-harm. Identifying pupils who are more vulnerable can help the school safeguard children against harm. These circumstances may be:
- Individual - does the pupil have a history of depression, anxiety or low self-esteem? Do they have impulsive behaviour or problems with alcohol or drugs? Do they have an eating disorder or ADHD?
- Familial - do problems with mental health run in their family? Do they have poor parental relationships or conflict with parents? Is there drug or alcohol misuse within the family? What about abuse or self-harm?
- Social - have they experienced any bullying at school? Do they have difficulty forming relationships? What kind of social media and online content are they exposed to?
Alternatives to Bandage Clips
Changes can also be made to safeguard children such as using other types of bandage clips in first aid kits and medical rooms instead of metal ones.
Elastic and plastic bandage clips are available as well as tape to store the bandage or keep it secure when they are being used. Depending on the injury, you can also tie or tuck in a bandage so that it stays in place.
Some bandages do not require clips or pins, for example non-slip bandages and adhesive bandages.
This will then minimise the chance of pupils attaining bandage clips in the first place, and reduce the risk of pupils using them to self-harm.
What To Do If a Pupil Has Self-harmed
Signs that someone has self-harmed include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts or burns
- Avoiding getting changed in front of others
- Covering up with clothing
- Becoming withdrawn or isolating themselves
- Low mood e.g. a sudden lack of interest in things, or a lowering in performance at school
- Sudden changes in behaviour
- Expressing feelings of low self-esteem, feeling hopeless or useless
If a pupil has self-harmed, there are steps the school can take to help. You can help manage the physical impact of self-harm, for example if a pupil has used a bandage clip to self-harm, and the mental effects:
- Stay calm and follow first aid guidelines for cuts
- Ask yourself, does the pupil need to be taken to hospital?
You can also:
- Direct the pupil towards the responsible person they can speak to and will listen to them about how they may be struggling
- Reassure the pupil and help them find the support they need
- Remind them that there is lots of support out there for example, calling a helpline, speaking to a GP or a family member
What is a Bandage Clip?
Bandage clips can be found in first aid kits. They are used to hold bandages together and ensure that they do not unravel when worn. They are commonly made from a strip of elastic with two metal clips on either side or made entirely of metal.
What is Self-harm and Why Do People Do It?
Self-harm is when you deliberately hurt yourself in order to relieve feelings of distress. People often self-harm when life feels hard to cope with.
In some cases, people may self-harm as a way of dealing with lots of intense thoughts and feelings. It may feel like this is the only way to let those feelings out. In other cases, some may use self-harm as a way to feel something when they feel numb. Some people find it hard to explain why they do it.
If you self-harm, you might be dealing with lots of intense thoughts and feelings and hurting yourself feels like the only way to let those feelings out. Or you might feel numb and want to hurt yourself so that you can feel something.
Self-harm might cause someone to feel:
- pain or discomfort
- temporary physical marks
- scarring
- feelings of sickness or dizziness
- feelings of weakness, shame or disgust
- feeling scared, out of control or confused by why you are doing this
- feelings of isolation and loneliness
With this in mind, if you, as a member of staff, have any concerns that a pupil might have self-harmed, you should approach them sensitively by being open about your concerns in an empathetic and caring manner. It's important not to be judgemental, angry or dismissive.