First Aid kits for football
Looking after athletes on the sideline is a challenge, and at lower levels of competition when funding is limited, is often provided by sports medics or trained First Aiders. I recommend you find a local physio that can help provide services for your team, and who you can contact if you have an injury on the field. If you are unable to source a professional then doing a Sideline Sports Medic First Aid course or a First Aid and CPR course will help give you the confidence to make good decisions when someone does get injured. Making sure you plan for all the eventualities and source a good ‘kit’ so you have what you need when an injury happens.
Sideline Kit
I think a good basic kit should contain:
- CPR mask and resuscitation card x 1
- Survival blanket x 1
- Scissors stainless x 1
- Gloves x multiple
- Management of blood products
Plasters Assorted water proof x 25 / gauze swab 7.5cm x 7.5cm / Sterile island dressings 7.2cm x 5 cm / Steristrips / non adherent wound pads 5cm x 7.5cm / swimming cap for head wounds / sealable bag to dispose of items with blood on - Wound cleansing wipes x2
- Saline solution x 3
- Antiseptic cream
- Strapping materials
38mm Rigid tape / 25mm rigid tape /50mm EAB / 75mm EAB - Compression bandages
Coban 75mm / coban 50mm /tubigrip - Blister management materials
Second skin / blister plasters assorted sizes - Vaseline / sports lube
- Massage Lotion / massage wax / warm up rub
- Cold spray / magic water
- Sunscreen
- Triangular bandage / Sling
- Instant ice packs
- ?Players medications / panadol
- Sport specific tools
Laces / studs / stud tightener / spare shinpads - Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool
- Business cards for BTYF Physio
It takes a while to get a good kit together, and once you have created a good kit you need to remember to replace items you use. Every team or athletes requirements are often slightly different so make a kit that suits your team perfectly and encourage athletes to take responsibility to bring the things they may need.