First aid and injury protocols on travel teams?

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Aug 29, 2018
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I’m wondering if anyone can share with me what your travel teams rules or protocols (if any) are regarding making sure a first aid kit is at every practice and tournament? Does your team always have a kit with ice packs, ace wraps, tape, band aids, tissues/Kleenex etc to help treat girls with minor injuries, cuts, scrapes, bee stings, lost teeth, aggravated injuries, bruising etc? Is someone trained in basic first aid to treat the girls? I’m just curious what most teams do?

For some reason, our league doesn’t have a basic first aid kit...not even a band aid, and I’ve seen so many things happen to girls over the years, it’s actually made me want to leave the team because the coaches don’t even have a band aid, let alone tape if someone twists their ankle and needs to stabilize it, or ice if they get hit by a pitch, or stung by a bee. A girl lost her tooth and bled all over the dugout because there was no bathroom at that practice field and literally nobody had a tissue to wipe the blood off her face, gums etc. Was awful. Every time someone needs an ice pack, a parent goes to the snack bar to ask for ice. This seems strange to me! And I can’t believe at least at the higher levels. (Our team is 10u) that this is standard practice.

I think the dugout coach should be responsible for bringing a first aid kit to every practice and tournament and be trained in basic first aid to treat minor things that inevitably happen during practices and games.

What does your team do?
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Our coach carries a first aid kit and several of our parents seem to have one too. At least IME most teams are volunteer coaches, relying on the assistance of the parents to help out with the details sometimes. Why don't you snag one on Amazon and donate it to the team? I know in rec that the coaches came out of pocket for that kind of thing. In travel it can get built into the budget but maybe he overlooked it. It happens.
 
Apr 20, 2015
961
93
I'm a pediatrician and carry a beyond extensive first aid kit everywhere, but our coaches carry a small basic kit when I'm not there as well.

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marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I’m wondering if anyone can share with me what your travel teams rules or protocols (if any) are regarding making sure a first aid kit is at every practice and tournament? Does your team always have a kit with ice packs, ace wraps, tape, band aids, tissues/Kleenex etc to help treat girls with minor injuries, cuts, scrapes, bee stings, lost teeth, aggravated injuries, bruising etc? Is someone trained in basic first aid to treat the girls? I’m just curious what most teams do?

For some reason, our league doesn’t have a basic first aid kit...not even a band aid, and I’ve seen so many things happen to girls over the years, it’s actually made me want to leave the team because the coaches don’t even have a band aid, let alone tape if someone twists their ankle and needs to stabilize it, or ice if they get hit by a pitch, or stung by a bee. A girl lost her tooth and bled all over the dugout because there was no bathroom at that practice field and literally nobody had a tissue to wipe the blood off her face, gums etc. Was awful. Every time someone needs an ice pack, a parent goes to the snack bar to ask for ice. This seems strange to me! And I can’t believe at least at the higher levels. (Our team is 10u) that this is standard practice.

I think the dugout coach should be responsible for bringing a first aid kit to every practice and tournament and be trained in basic first aid to treat minor things that inevitably happen during practices and games.

What does your team do?

We have signed medical forms from all players which we keep in the team folder and one of our team parents has a very comprehensive first aid kit in her bag. We don't carry ice, but ice is readily available in the coolers at tournaments and I know the parent has a few of the cool-packs in her kit. We didn't assign the parent to bring the first aid kit, she just has everything so we don't have to worry about it.

If you are worried, then put your own first-aid kit together and carry it or put it in your kids softball bag if you are not there regularly. If there is otherwise good coaching and a good team, I wouldn't leave the team over it.
 
Jun 14, 2018
172
28
We have signed medical forms from all players which we keep in the team folder and one of our team parents has a very comprehensive first aid kit in her bag. We don't carry ice, but ice is readily available in the coolers at tournaments and I know the parent has a few of the cool-packs in her kit. We didn't assign the parent to bring the first aid kit, she just has everything so we don't have to worry about it.

If you are worried, then put your own first-aid kit together and carry it or put it in your kids softball bag if you are not there regularly. If there is otherwise good coaching and a good team, I wouldn't leave the team over it.

I have to agree with this. My wife carries all kinds of stuff in her duffel bag I mean purse. I don't feel it is an important thing for our coaches to be trained in first aid, most of them are just volunteers.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
I have a large Med Kit that I keep with me at all times during the season. It is actually a large soft-sided fishing tackle box with 4 large covered trays. And it's red. It will be at every practice and game. I have ice packs, bandaids, large pads for scrapes, disinfectant, tape, ace bandages, ointments, aspirin, ibuprofen and several other things to make sure we can treat the common injury issues that happen every year. I've been fortunate the last few teams I've had there's been mom who was a nurse. Instant medic on the team. I usually let mom handle patching the kids up. I've been really lucky over the years. I've never had a serious injury to player that required an ambulance. Each year I restock it and add it to the team budget.
 
Jan 5, 2018
385
63
PNW
I have to agree with this. My wife carries all kinds of stuff in her duffel bag I mean purse. I don't feel it is an important thing for our coaches to be trained in first aid, most of them are just volunteers.

Why not is it not important? USA softball requires concussion training, Little League in our area requires Concussion training for coaches and SOMEONE trained in first aid at every practice/game (Does not have to be a coach). HS coaches in our area have required concussion and first aid training. Why wouldn't you ask or expect the leadership of your team to have first aid training? You can rely upon someone else which is fine...until "someone else" isn't there. Having a coach trained in first aid seems logical and responsible.

As far as a first aid kit. Every team should have a basic one and a couple ice packs. As time has gone by I've built my own, based on experience and others experiences. That "kit" is also more than a FA kit it's a combination of those things needed in a pinch....a fairly robust first aid kit but also sanitary feminine hygiene products, hair ties, glove lace and lacing kit, bat grip tape, KT Tape, athletic tape, hair ties, sunscreen, saline solution for contacts, biofreeze, and a roll of toilet paper.

I get some of those things are the responsibility of the player and/or parent. But as a coach I want the day to go as smoothly as possible. Having those things in a "emergency" kit...minimizes the "emergency" and the team distraction. Having a parent who handles this is awesome. At the end of the day the goal is to have the things of life that happen not turn into a distraction.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
Yep a well stocked first aid kit, "products" for teenage girls and we bring a few towels to dry balls, a binder with all insurance and a copy of each girls birth certificate and emergency contact information, extra sets of line up cards, and pencils and extra clickers. At least one coach loses their clicker once a weekend.
 
May 27, 2013
2,353
113
Yep, first aid kits are a “should have” item for any team. Just please be very careful with those of you who carry medication in your kits. Always ask the parent first before offering any kid medication, and also be sure you ask if they have any medication allergies before giving them anything. Also, I know some one earlier mentioned having aspirin in their kit. Not really indicated for kids, so I wouldn’t carry it. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Benadryl are good to have but be sure you always check expiration dates as meds expire, and if you don’t have a medical background I would only provide them if the parent/player ask for them.

ETA: First aid, CPR, and AED training are very important, as well. It would be ideal if at least one coach has these certs. You can typically get them done at a local fire company for low cost.
 
Last edited:
Jun 1, 2015
500
43
New York State (where I teach) requires ALL coaches to have First Aid, CPR, and AED certification and renew it every 2-3 years. Most schools also require concussion management. Even though I don't coach HS softball (yet), I always make sure I'm as up on the latest practices whenever I can be. This past year, "my dog" bought me a 74-piece first aid kit from the American Red Cross (it was 10% off, came to just under $25 after tax - free shipping. :) ), and I plan on using this with all my practices/games come the summertime. I also have a binder with my girls' medical forms and make the players tell me EVERY single injury/ache so I know it ahead of time in case something comes up. Better to be proactive than reactive.
 

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