Do You Run A Sports Club Or Group? How Good Are Your First Aid Skills?

If you’ve ever had the misfortune to visit your local A&E Department late on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon you’ll already be aware what a haven it is for sports injuries. People with torn ligaments, strains, sprains, breakages, muscle tears . . . it really is a case of the walking wounded.

Unfortunately sports injuries are an all too common occurrence whether you are an amateur sports person or a professional. It goes with the territory I’m afraid. If you are someone who’s in charge of a sports club or group and you are not a qualified first aider, it might be an idea to brush up on your first aid knowledge now with first aid training books.

It’s all too easy to offload the responsibility for first aid and leave it to someone else. But if an accident should occur and you are the first one on the scene, the injured party will be looking to YOU to take charge. If for example you were summoned to a 5-a-side football pitch where someone was lying unconscious on the ground. What would you do next?

Often the first few minutes following an incident can be critical – and if it’s really serious – waiting for the emergency services to arrive before taking action may not be an option. For people not trained in first aid, there will of course be a reluctance to get involved lest you injure the patient further. However, given a basic overview of how the body works and the main types of illness and injury you are likely to be confronted with, will give you the confidence to deal with such a situation.

First aid training books are an ideal (and inexpensive) way to get you started on the rudiments of first aid. You’ll quickly learn how to assess the casualty and what action to take immediately – and just as importantly – what not to do.

Contrary to what some people believe, first aid is not difficult to administer. It’s simply a question of remaining calm, reassuring the patient, and doing the right things at the right time. In other words, following a well-defined procedure. You will also develop your people skills and ability to organise others in what could be a fraught and stressful situation.

First aid training books will equip you to deal with all kinds of emergencies should the worst happen. And you may wish to continue your education with practical on site or remote training, or an accredited course leading to a qualification.