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Where's The First Aid Kit?
Where's The First Aid Kit?
Some Questions To Ask
Disturbing Statistics
What Experts Say
Should Youth Coaches Be Certified?
What Should Parents Do?

In an episode of the popular NBC series "ER", Doctor Mark Green watched as his 10-year old daughter dove to make a save in a youth soccer game, slammed headfirst into the goal post, and was temporarily knocked unconscious. Running on to the field to attend to his daughter, Dr. Green called for the first-aid kit. The coach admitted that he didn't have one!

Unfortunately, this scene is all too typical. Volunteer coaches are not receiving proper safety training. Few carry first aid kits with latex gloves, ice packs, bandages, anti-bacterial cream and smelling salts. With the explosion in the size of organized youth sports programs, many well-intentioned volunteers are coaching a sport they have never played and thus lack any first-hand exposure to its potential dangers.

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Although most youth sports are comparatively safe, minor injuries are commonplace, and more serious injuries, while relatively rare, do occur. Some obvious questions to ask your child’s coach are:

• If your child becomes injured, does he know what do?
  
  

• Does he know how to reach you quickly if you aren’t there?
  
  

• Does he have a well-stocked first aid kit at all games and practices?
  
  

• Has he or she received basic first-aid training?
  
  

• Has he received specific first-aid training for the sport he or she is coaching?

Most programs across the country don't have a system set up to handle medical emergencies. Parents need to know that their child will be safe when they drop them off for practice or a game.

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A Safety Checklist For Parents
What's In A Well-Stocked First Aid Kit?
Player Safety: It's Not Always A Priority
Does Your State Require Training To Coach Interscholastic Sports?
Sports Safety Training
What Legal Duties Are Owed To Participants In Youth Sports Programs?

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