Medic Bag for sports coach? Need Advice

[paulie]

Hello everyone, I hope not being an EMT is not frowned upon here... I am a Olympic weightlifting coach and have been for a few years now, recently we had an injury to an athlete during a lift. Because of this we are looking to add a Medic Bag to our gym and require all coaches and staff to take a course in something that we will be better suited to help our athletes until paramedics are on site.

1. What would you keep on hand at a gym?

1a. Most injuries will be Sprains, passing out (happens very often), Shoulder dislocations, and rarely broken bones. Cuts and scrapes we are okay there.

2. What courses could we sign up for to learn how to wrap a simple sprain or splint a broken bone until help arrives or on the occasion we would just drive them to the hospital?

 

[WuLabsWuTecH]

1) Not an all-inclusive list, but what I can think of off the top of my head and I'll let other people think of other things to add to the list:

Band-aids--in assorted sizes and shapes. I'd say a box (100) of assorted sizes and a box (30) of some weird sizes (fingertip, etc)
Cold and Hot packs--cold packs not necessary if you have ice nearby
antibiotic ointment - for minor cuts and scrapes
Some 4x4 gauze pads for anything that's bleeding more than a band-aid could control. I'd say 10 or 20 would be fine
A 5x9 abd pad for heavy bleeding--if someone is bleeding that much at a gym, you're gonna be calling for help so you should only need one or two--they aren't going home with it so the medics will have what he'll need.
Towels
Triangle bandages (4) for a sling if you need to make one
Splits (optional) once again, if you need one, the medics will be coming and they'll have one.
Pair of scissors
If you want to get fancy, aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen, cortisone, other OTC meds

There's not much you're going to do for someone who's passes out other than to keep them down (so they don't pass out when trying to stand up again) and elevating their feet (with the towels you got in your bag above)

Similarly, sprains you'll be icing, and you can send 'em home with more ice/cold packs and maybe a hot pack for later.

Dislocations you'll just be keeping immobilized to prevent further injury and to help with pain.

I would recommend an American Red Cross First Aid course. They are relatively inexpensive and if you have enough people interested, they'll come out to where you are and do a course for you. They can also sell you a first-aid bag, but I can't think of much else in it you would need other than what I mentioned above.

 

[Akulahawk]

The equipment list above isn't actually all that bad. I would suggest that while having OTC meds isn't a bad idea, just makes sure that your policies/procedures specifically address that they can be provided at customer request and it's up to the customer to choose what they want.

As far as what to do in the event of an illness or injury, you really have only a few choices. You should have everyone take at least a First Aid course, possibly even an Advanced First Aid course. There are other courses you could take but since your goal is simply immediate first aid care, then you probably don't need anything more in-depth than Advanced First Aid because you'll have Paramedics on the way to provide further care.

Some of us here have some very advanced/specific education in Sports Medicine. I'm one of them. I suspect that all of us will recommend what I did above for your situation.

 

[wanderingmedic]

I know they are expensive...but an AED would be a great addition too.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

I know they are expensive...but an AED would be a great addition too.

I was thinking the same thing, if the budget allows it or if you can get a grant or something. In addition to that, I would have a CPR kit wit the protective mouth barrier.
In terms of real emergencies, the above list sounds pretty good, just keep a supply of protective gloves so you(or who ever is doing first aid) can protect themselves from direct exposure.
I have worked more sporting event stand by's than I would like to count over the past decade. By far the most popular supplies I go through are ace wraps and ice packs... However, If and when an emergency occurs and you activate EMS your pretty limited to stopping bleeding, slinging and splinting (if trained) manual spinal immobilization, and god forbid, cpr and resuscitation efforts along with the use of an AED if applicable.

 

[gw812]

I'd also consider something for dehydration or nerves-the-morning-of-competition-vomit-right-before. Simple, but pack some Gatorade powder or other choice of sports drink mix.
Has anyone mentioned athletic tape or elastic bandages yet?

 

[paulie]

Thanks everyone...
we had a local EMT and fireman come in and they are helping us put two bags together one for the gym and one for traveling. The sports drink powder is a great idea, we have no AC. The EMT says we gave a call time of about 10 min so we really don't need much . They said we should learn and worry more about the thing you don't go to the ER for the simple things like how to properly cleas and dress cuts and wrap sprains.