All coaches must be paid-up members of Rosslyn Park and must attend a First Aid Course – Rosslyn Park runs a course at least once a year run by Tony Bennison of ABC First Aid Ltd – www.abcfirstaid.co.uk  .This focusses on ELS (Emergency Life Saving) technique.

All Team managers should complete the Medical Conditions Template (download below), with names from your age group registration data. Please add the names of your qualified First Aiders. This should be laminated with your Player Contact sheets, and all coaches should have a copy pitchside. This also includes details on 999 calls and Satnav directions for ambulances

Medical Conditions Template

At every session in Richmond Park we have the following resources available:
1. coaches, all of whom should have attended Tony Bennison’s course;

2. designated first aiders for each age group;

3. a fully qualified physio on site – wearing a hi-viz yellow jacket;

4. (if necessary) 999.

In the event of an injury, a coach and/or first aider will attend the injury. If he/she is pitchside so will the physio. If the coach/first aider can see that the injury requires further attention, the physio will be called if not pitchside.

Time must then be given to the physio to carry out diagnostic/triage tests to evaluate the injury.

The physio will then advise the coach what should be done. It is at this point that emergency services should be called – if deemed appropriate. Should an ambulance be called it is recommended that the physio be the one explaining the injury to the emergency services. Please note that the location of the pitches is Sawyers Hill, Richmond Park. For Satnav they should be given the postcode for White Lodge TW10 5HR, and told to look for the pitches. You will need to direct them to your injury.

There is a risk that parents or other spectators – however well-intentioned – will call 999 independently, unaware of the procedure that is being followed. We therefore need to make sure parents ARE aware of these procedures and it is recommended that coaches make sure parents are told what is happening so that parents are reassured.

Of course, it is possible that there is one bad injury at one end of the pitch and another at the other end. Coaches, first aiders and the physio will then need to make judgements about which will take priority.

The physio will usually be stationed in the middle of the playing area.

None of this is intended to cut across the “ABC” procedures that Tony Bennison teaches in his course, nor should anyone feel that calling 999 if in any doubt is ultimately wrong. However, we do have the resources and clear procedures for dealing with injuries and those who are qualified must be allowed to make a decision which reflects the seriousness of the injury

It is a club requirement that note of any injury (and any follow up if appropriate) be logged by age group managers or coaches with Pippa Rollitt and with the Minis or Youth Chairman as appropriate.

Below you can read advice from Tony Bennison’s course, suggested contents of first aid bags and advice in the event of any head injury. Bumps to the head are of course very common and parents/carers are reminded to study this advice carefully. Meanwhile we are continually assessing our first aid cover and any suggestions and offers of help would be welcome.

Please click to access the following resources. The purpose of this advice is not to address the critical, life-threatening situations which make up a large part of Tony’s course. Rather it addresses non life-threatening – and non spinal/concussive injuries – which are perhaps more common.

1. Head injury advice form: head-injury.ppt

2. Medical treatment and advice policy: med-advice-policy.ppt

3. First Aid for Appointed Persons: manual-ap-adult.ppt

4. Kit Contents for First Aid: kit-contents.ppt