First Aid

First Aid

Are we prepared if there is an accident?

Each club has a responsibility to:

1. Provide adequate First Aid Facilities for its members at club sessions and competitions.

2. Clubs must ensure First Aid Boxes are available with the agreed minimum contents (see recommended list Appendix 4).

3. Clubs must ensure all First Aid boxes have sufficient regular checks against a list of contents detailed inside the lid.

4. Clubs must identify club members who are recognized First Aiders and keep an updated list at all times.

Competition organisers must decide what is appropriate first aid and ambulance cover for the competition and share this information with all competitors and officials. When considering the requirements, a number of points must be taken into account:

1. Location of the competition – removed or close to facilities, easy or difficult access.

2. Potential hazards.

3. People – Number of competitors (age and rowing experience), spectators and supporters.

4. Access to the Ambulance Service – speed of response.

5. First Aid Point(s) – Typically near the finish line or crewing area.

6. Transporting the injured to the First Aid Point or ambulance.

7. Proximity of permanent medical facilities – location of the nearest hospital providing the appropriate A&E support.

Competition organisers have a responsibility to:

1. Ensure adequate First Aid cover is provided.

2. Ensure documentation and signage is such that competitors and spectators should be aware of the location of the First Aid Point(s).

3. Ensure adequate communication to summon first aid is provided.

4. Inform all emergency services of the competition and make arrangements with the ambulance service for an emergency response.

5. Keep a record of all incidents and report them to the SWCYRA to be included in the safety file.

To facilitate the provision of appropriate first aid cover the SWCYRA identifies the minimum requirements for both a Club Regatta and a Championship Regatta in Appendix 5.

Incident Control and Communications: If there is a medical occurrence it is vital that it is clear who is in charge of handling the incident. As such each club and or competition organizing committee must have an Emergency Action Plan detailing the procedure to be followed in the event of an accident. A sample EAP is attached (Appendix 6) including the procedure for removing an incapacitated or unconscious person from a rowing boat.