Why Coaches Should be Trained in How to handle Medical Emergencies
Sports have always been a big part of people's lives, especially in the United States. 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 a variety of sporting activities. Many do it to channel their energy and competitiveness, some do it to be fit 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 kids need a coach to show them how to master a skill or how to play the game, professional athletes need good coaches to ensure that they are playing at their highest capable ability. Coaches these days are required to have a great deal of experience as well as education in the sport that they coach. The one thing, however, that is not required of all coaches is to be certified to know and use CPR Supplies & the use of a AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). This is one of several things coaches should be trained in today.
Sports are beginning at much younger ages today and the level of competition is also much higher at a young age too. Kids are participating in sports year round instead of a different one every couple of months. This is why, more people are participating in sports now than 20 years ago. With that increased population, comes increased risk to the athletes playing. Increased injuries are occurring in sports as athletes push themselves harder than they ever used to. Several younger athletes have watched how lucrative a career in professional sports is and desire that too. Because of that pressure to excel in sports, athletes, parents and coaches are feeling compelled to push themselves more than is healthy. This is surely 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 physically? They should learn basic first aid techniques such as sprains, broken bones, cuts,etc. More importantly, they should know CPR and how to use CPR Supplies and a AED in case an athlete can't breathe and collapses. Immediately starting CPR can literally save someone's life in those crucial minutes before the ambulance arrives. All coaches should also have the equipment to revive someone who has collapsed.
A few years ago a young strong college basketball player collapsed on the court and passed away. 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 field and the coach used the AED and CPR supplies on her and restarted her heart and saved her life.