Sports First Aid

Prompt and effective Sports First Aid can make a hugely positive difference to the time and ability of an athlete to recover from injury. Whilst these course cover basic life support the focus is on manging incidents and competently assessing whether a casualty should be returning to activity or not.

We run a Fitness First Aid - 1 Day First Aid for Sport, Exercise and Fitness certificate  which is suitable for:

  • Sports Therapists
  • Massage Therapists
  • Sports Coaches and Leaders
  • Group Exercise Instructors
  • Personal Trainers
  • Martial Arts

Our Pitch Side First Aid - 2 day Sports First Aid certificate is focussed more specifically on pitch side first aid and is suitable for:

  • Physiotherapists and Osteopaths
  • Sports Coaches and Leaders in pitchside sports like Rugby, Football, Hockey etc
  • PE Teachers
  • Rugby and other Sports Club Members

    You can attend one of our open 1 and 2 day sports first aid courses as an individual or arrange a group course to be taught at your own venue. Through React first both these courses are accredited for CPD by the:

    • Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSM) - Bronze
    • Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
    • British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT
    • Society of Sports Therapists (SST)
    • Sports Therapy Organisation (STO)

    Both courses will fulfil your first aid requirements for insurance purposes and as stipulated by other sports governing bodies such as the RFC and British Rowing.

    Course - Pitch Side First Aid - 2 Day Sports First Aid certificate

    This is a highly practical sports trauma and incident management course delivered in 14hrs over 2 days. It is specifically for anyone who will be working as a ptichside first aider. We have many physiotherapists and osteopaths working at rugby clubs attending this course. 

    Certification is dependent on successful continuous assessment of the candidate, there is no final examination. Those who complete the course successfully are awarded a certificate that is valid for three years. 

    The certificate entitles the candidate to be a First Aider for 3 years from date of issue.

    There are no pre-requisites to attend this course.

    Course Timings

    09:00-17:00 both days.  We need to have 14 contact hours with all attendees so the course will both start and end promptly.

    Course content

    • Safe best practice and awareness of current regulations
    • Sports specific practical scenario training
    • A systematic approach to incident management using ABCDE
    • Vital Signs
    • Monitoring conscious casualties
    • Unconsciousness, causes and treatment using safe airway positions
    • External bleeding, internal bleeding and shock
    • CPR Resuscitation procedures. Single person and multi-person CPR
    • Choking
    • Assessing and treating common sports trauma injuries - head, neck, spine & limb 
    • Manual immobilisation techniques
    • Recognition of concussion - use of Maddock's questions
    • Soft tissue injuries, strains and sprains - when to and when not to use ice
    • Cease to play decisions following on field assessment using SALTAPS
    • What to put in your first aid kit
    • How to make an action plan

    This course include using manual immobilisation techniques to manage suspected spinal injuries.  Click here to read our online article about why we feel it is inappropriate to teach the use of spinal boards on this course.

        Booking a Course

        We can run in-house training at your venue for groups of up to 12 per instructor.  You simply need a room large enough to not only seat everyone but also to allow them to lie on the floor and be rolled around without bumping into furniture or each other. Ask about organising a course for your group >>

        Sports First Aid Course CalendarWe also have a programme of public sports first aid courses in London and Manchester for individuals to attend. Dates and locations of these courses are on our course calendar.  View public first aid course dates >>

        We know all of our trainers personally and our training is consistent regardless of the trainer and the course location. These are high quality, fun and practical courses which give all those attending the skills and confidence that they need should a first aid situation arise. We always receive excellent feedback from candidates.

        Happy Customers

        "If more people attended courses like this, sports participation would be a lot safer for thousands of people up and down the UK, and serious injuries would be much more likely to be managed effectively and efficiently. Lives might also well be saved. We need more courses like this!!"
        Dr Tim Anstiss, B.M., M.Ed., D.Occ.MeD., Member of Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Former team physician, UK Athletics

        "Thank you for an excellent course which has thoroughly prepared me for becoming a sports first aider for trauma management in a multitude of different sports and environments.No other course that I attended has provided me with so much practical application and practice which has inevitably left me more than confident in dealing with scenarios which would ordinarily be beyond my physiotherapy ‘comfort zone''.I will definitely be recommending your course to my physiotherapy colleagues who have an interest in sports. Thank you." 
        Lisa Newey, Sports Physiotherapist

        More testimonials >>

        Pitch Side First Aid

        Course - Fitness First Aid - 1 Day First Aid for Sport, Exercise and Fitness certificate

        The 1 Day First Aid for Sport, Exercise and Fitness certificate course is a great introduction to first aid in a sports environment the essential knowledge, skills and decisions for all first aiders in this sector, especially addressing the influence of sports activity and specialist equipment, such as gum shields, upon casualty care.

        It is specifically designed to meet the needs of Sports Therapists, Group Exercise Instructors and Coaches who don't necessarily require a full 2 day course.

        Certification is dependent on successful continuous assessment of the candidate, there is no final examination. Those who complete the course successfully are awarded a certificate that is valid for three years. 

        The certificate entitles the candidate to be a First Aider for 3 years from date of issue. There are no pre-requisites to attend this course.

        Course timings

        09:00 - 17:00

        Course content

        • Safe best practice and awareness of current regulations
        • Sports specific practical scenario training
        • A systematic approach to incident management. Primary Survey
        • Vital signs
        • Airway Management - safe airway positions & dealing with gum shields
        • Return to play decisions following on field assessment using SALTAPS
        • Recognition of concussion - use of Maddock's questions
        • Soft tissue injuries, strains and sprains - when to and when not to use ice
        • CPR Resuscitation procedures - single and multi-person scenarios
        • Choking
        • What to put in your first aid kit
        • How to make an action plan

        Booking a Course

        We can run in-house training at your venue for groups of up to 12 per instructor.  You simply need a room large enough to not only seat everyone but also to allow them to lie on the floor and be rolled around without bumping into furniture or each other. Ask about organising a course for your group >>

        Sports First Aid Course CalendarWe also have a programme of public sports first aid courses in London and Manchester for individuals to attend. Dates and locations of these courses are on our course calendar.  View public first aid course dates >>

        We know all of our trainers personally and our training is consistent regardless of the trainer and the course location. These are high quality, fun and practical courses which give all those attending the skills and confidence that they need should a first aid situation arise. We always receive excellent feedback from candidates.

        Happy Customers

        "The course has taught me the importance of personal and public safety. Managing airways, breathing problems and various injuries and emergencies in both the young and the old is applicable in every situation which will further my development as both a first aider and a future physiotherapist. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wishing to do First Aid for a sports club as the training I received has taught me a skill for life:  The skill to help and save others."
        Alison Kelly, Physiotherapy Student

        "Just did my Sports First Aid refresher. The day is full on, well structured and very informative. At times one feels like a complete idiot when having to go through the sequences again and again but it's all important and always for a very good reason. Loads to take in and loads to get out of it. Fantastic instructors with great sense of humour. Comes highly recommended."
        Claudia Lenz, Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist (On-Tour-Massage)

        More testimonials >>

        Sports First Aid Course

        To book a course click here
         
        To make an enquiry click here