Coaches Teach their Players Fundamental but May Also Need To Save Their Life
Athletics have always been a big part of people's lives, particularly in America. Competitive games and sports date back to ancient times when men used to create games to compete in, at times with the ending at the death of their opponent. Fortunately, that does not exist today but many men, women, and children like participating in various sports. Some do it to channel their drive and need to compete, some do it to stay in shape and lose weight and some do it for the love of the sport. No matter what type of athlete you are, a good coach is an important component of athletics.
Young children need a coach to teach them how to master a skill or how to play the game, professional athletes need capable coaches to ensure that they are playing at their highest level. Coaches today are required to have a great deal of experience in addition to an education in the sport that they coach. The one thing, however, that is not required of all coaches is to be trained to know and use CPR Supplies & the use of a AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). This is one of the many things coaches should be trained in today.
Athletics are beginning at much younger ages these days and the level of competition is also much higher at a young age too. Kids are playing a sport year round instead of a different one each season. Because of this, more people are competing in sports now than 20 years ago. With that increased population, comes increased risk to the athletes playing. Increased injuries are happening in sports as athletes push themselves harder than they ever have before. Many younger athletes have seen how lucrative a career in professional sports is and want that for themselves. Because of that pressure to excel in sports, athletes, parents and coaches are feeling the need to push themselves more than they probably should. This is exactly why it is so imperative for coaches to be trained to handle various medical emergencies.
Coaches should take classes in basic first aid and CPR as a start. It is required to be a teacher so why is it not required for coaches who push their athletes so hard? They should be trained in basic first aid techniques dealing with sprains, broken bones, cuts,etc. More importantly, they should learn CPR and how to use CPR Supplies and a AED in case an athlete collapses and cannot breathe. Immediately starting CPR can literally save someone's life in those crucial minutes before the ambulance arrives. All coaches should also have the necessary items to revive someone who has passed out.
Several years ago a young strong college basketball player collapsed on the court and died. If they had used an AED they could have used it to save his life. Another better ending is a story of a teenage girl who was playing softball on a summer night. She was hit by lightning on the softball diamond and the coach used the AED and CPR supplies on her to revive her heart and saved her life.