Ice Hockey First Aid Reccomendations
With the hockey season beginning it’s time to get prepared! It is important to gel as a team and work together whether it be with skills or in the case of an emergency.
Responsibilities every team has to maintain:
- Accurate medical information files on all players
- A player injury log even for small injuries
- A regulation first aid kit
Additional responsibilities of a team:
- Bring the First Aid Kit to all team activities, ex. Off-ice training and away games
- Implement an effective Emergency Action Plan with your team and practice it regularly to ensure all involved understand their roles and are prepared to act promptly when an incident occurs
It is very important to coach players to recognize injuries that require a player to be removed from action. In a situation where a player is injured on the ice, follow these steps closely:
- Take control and assess the situation when coming into contact with the injured player
- Instruct the player to lay still
- Instruct bystanders to leave the injured player alone
- Do not move the athlete and leave all equipment in place
- Evaluate the injury and situation
- Once the severity of the injury is determined, make a decision whether or not an ambulance or medical care is required
- If the injury is serious and warrants immediate attention that you are not qualified to provide, seek out someone with the highest possible level of first aid/medical expertise
Automated External Defibrillators are becoming more and more prevalent in community centres and specifically ice arenas. AEDs are used to save lives by shocking the heart when an individual falls under cardiac arrest. For more information on how they operate check out our blog: The SHOCKING Truth Behind AEDs.
Here are a couple of real life examples from Global News in Canada of how a defibrillator at an arena has proven to save lives:
- Automated External Defibrillator Saves Hockey Player at Richmond Rink
- Delta Man Survives Second Heart Attack Playing Hockey on Richmond Ice Rink in 10 Months
- Nanaimo Goalie Given CPR by Opposing Goalie After Cardiac Arrest
We hope you never come across an emergency in your life; however it is important to be prepared. Here is a list of all of our Athletic & Sports kits, stocked and ready for all types of injuries:
- Athletic Kit – Standard
- Athletic Kit – Deluxe
- Hockey Coach/Trainer Kit
- Sports Kit – Standard
- Sports Kit – Deluxe
First Aid Canada is pleased to offer all kits required above as well as additional products, equipment and supplies. If you have any questions regarding first aid and safety, please do not hesitate to contact the First Aid Canada Team at 1-866-322-4243.