Many volunteer coaches in youth sports are aware of the importance of basic first aid training and having a small first aid kit at all games.  Unfortunately, it is not until a major injury occurs that they realize the need for an emergency treatment plan.

 

Even though some of the injuries can be treated with an ice pack or a bandage, the increase in the number of children in sports and the higher level of competition that is involved has caused an increase in the number and severity of injuries.

 

In the last decade football injuries have increased 43% with cheerleading injuries following close behind with a 38% increase in children 7-18 years old.  ACL injuries occure in 20,000 high school students annually, most of them female. 

The significance of these injuries requires more than just an ice pack or an untrained eye to make the assessment of what level of treatment is needed.  In some cases the comfort of knowing you have an ambulance crew just 10 minutes away isn't good enough.  If the injury is to the cervical spine or there is a severe concussion, the athlete could stop breathing.  In that case, 10 minutes is too long..

 

 

 

 Sports Medic 2 The Rescue, LLC