Health & Injury Policy

Rationale

The formulation of the Abbeyleix AFC Juvenile Club’s Health & Safety Policy, enables the Club to effectively:

  •  Provide for the immediate needs and requirements of members who have sustained either a serious or a minor injury.
  •  Ensure that adequate resources and procedures are in place to deal with accidents/injuries as they arise.
  •  Ensure lines of communication with parents/guardians are in place if required.
  •  Provide a common safe approach for the administering of First Aid.

Aims

  •  To ensure the physical safety and wellbeing of all members of the club.
  •  To develop a framework of procedures whereby all injuries are dealt with in a competent and safe manner
  •  To provide coaches with basic first aid training within a specific time period of < 2 years from when they agree to volunteer

Roles and Responsibilities

The Club accepts that despite the best efforts of our coaches at prevention, accidents can and will happen. On these occasions coaches are expected to exercise the standard of care of a reasonable and prudent parent as none of the coaches are trained medics.

The manager or coach of each team will take responsibility for the training sessions and matches to try and ensure they are conducted in a safe environment for all members where possible. Club Members are expected to behave at all times, with consideration for both their own safety and the safety of others. Failure to do so will be dealt with under the club’s code of conduct.

Context of This Policy

The Safety of all club members is a priority for the Club.

The club is insured by Aviva DAC, One Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Certificate Number: 551110593/10167 and is available to all juvenile playing members. Dental cover is not covered in the policy. Parents/guardians are notified that dental cover is not included as part of their child’s club insurance cover during club registration. 

Basic First Aid Training is provided to coaches/volunteers and is funded by the Club. The club aims to have every coach/volunteer participate in the basic first aid training within 2 years of volunteering with a team. 

The purpose of First Aid is to ensure that any immediate danger and discomfort is alleviated. Any First Aid rendered by the club is intended to be of temporary nature and to be the minimum level of care. Any further diagnosis or extended care should be passed on to medical professionals. Injuries should be fully examined by Parents/Guardians when children arrive home.

Contact Numbers

Parents/guardians are asked to provide at least one contact number at the start of each season during the registration process, to be used for regular contact and information, but also in case of emergencies. It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure numbers are updated as necessary and that their child’s coaches are immediately notified of any such changes in contact information.

Procedures

  •  If a child suffers an injury, it will be assessed by the coach nearest to the child at that time.
  •  A minor accident or injury is one where a child has received scrape, graze, bump or minor cut to arm, leg, or body.
  •  All coaches will endeavour to deal with instances of minor first aid in accordance with the treatment procedures outlined further below.
  •  A serious accident or injury is one where child has received injury which may require further treatment. All head or eye injuries are considered to be potentially serious. Severe bleeding and suspected broken bones are serious.
  •  It is the responsibility of the attending coach to decide whether an injury should be considered ‘serious’. They will only be expected to make a common-sense judgement as any responsible parent would as they are not trained medical professionals and take into account the specific needs of the child concerned. The assistance of any other club coach should be sought if the injury appears to be serious.
  •  If an injury is judged to be serious then the parents/guardians are to be contacted immediately and asked to come to the pitch location. Until the parents arrive the child is kept under observation. If it is felt that immediate professional help is required, then an ambulance should be called. Once the ambulance arrives the paramedics take-over responsibility and decision making.

Some Basic First Aid procedures are outlined below.

Treatment Procedures Minor Cuts and Bruises

  •  Wearing disposable gloves clean around cuts using cotton pad and water, cleaning from the centre
  • outwards.
  •  Check for any small bodies which may be embedded in the wound.
  •  Place a plaster on the wound if necessary for comfort or hygiene.

 Sprains/Bruises

  •  Ice pack is applied and, if possible, the affected area is elevated.
  •  Coach observation is maintained
  •  If in doubt parents are contacted by phone.

Nose Bleeds

  •  Do NOT tilt the head back. Have the casualty sit up straight and lean slightly forward.
  •  Pinch the casualty’s nose just below the bridge and apply constant pressure for 5 minutes. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped continue treatment for 5 more minutes.
  •  An icepack may be applied to the back of the neck.
  •  Seek medical help and contact parents if the bleed does not stop after 10 minutes of pressure.
  •  Seek medical help immediately if the bleed follows a blow to the head or face.
Head Injuries
 
  •  All head injuries are potentially serious.
  •  Treat as appropriate for either bruising or bleeding
  •  In addition, observe the child carefully looking out for signs of concussion such as; lying motionless, inability to get up or stumbling or their ‘just not feeling right’; double vision, blurred vision, inability to focus, dizziness, inability to respond appropriately to simple questions, nausea, pallor, clamminess.
  •  REACT – Remove the player immediately from training or a match. If it occurs in a game notify the referee so it will be included in the match report.
  •  Parents/carers should be contacted/advised so that they may continue to watch out for signs of concussion.
  •  If serious contact an ambulance. Phone 999 or 112
  •  Notify the club secretary of any serious incidents whether at training or a match.
Eye Injuries
  •  All eye injuries are potentially serious.
  •  If there is something in the eye the eye may be irrigated with sterile water.
  •  For bruising/ black eye an icepack may relieve pain and reduce swelling.
  •  If there is cause for concern both eyes should be covered with a loose sterile dressing and medical help should be sought promptly.
  •  Parents/carers should be contacted/advised
Stings
  •  If the sting is still in the skin (eg bee sting) it is important to remove it. Scrape it out carefully with the edge of a card.
  •  Apply an ice pack to reduce inflammation and swelling. The small local reaction (itching and/or swelling) will go away over time.
  •  If you see signs of a general allergic reaction (swelling of the mouth or lips, difficulty breathing) get medical help urgently. Phone 999 or 112.
  •  Parents/carers should be contacted/advised
Fainting
  •  Place the casualty in the recovery position
  •  Check vital signs
  •  Ensure there is fresh air move other players back
  •  Reassure casualty
  •  Contact parents
Severe Bleeding
  •  Act instantly – GO, Go, Go!
  •  Send for help – Call an ambulance
  •  Apply direct pressure with your hand, a sterile dressing, or a lint free cloth. Raise the limb if no other injury is present.
  •  Do NOT use a tourniquet.
  •  Do NOT remove an impaled object.
  •  Do NOT remove a dressing once it has been put in place.
  •  Treat for shock – keep warm
  •  Contact parents

Unconsciousness

  •  Send someone to phone ambulance
  •  Send someone to phone parents
  •  Check vital signs
  •  If subject is not breathing commence artificial respiration
  •  Send someone for nearest Defibrillation device
  •  If subject is breathing but you suspect broken bones in neck or back do not move them. Otherwise
    place the child in the recovery position.

Record Keeping

  •  All serious injuries/accidents which happen during training or matches are recorded by the coach notifying the clubs secretary.
  •  The date, time, name of injured child, nature of injury, action taken should be recorded including a brief outline of the facts as to what has occurred.

Informing Parents

  •  Where practical, the team coach will inform parents of any serious injuries or accidents that occur at training or during a match by speaking with them as soon as possible after training or a match. If this is not possible then a quick phone call to the parents/carers to explain the injury and any action that was taken.
  •  Where the child is very distressed or the injury is significant, parents will be informed by phone immediately if they are not present and requested to attend the location.
  •  Parents/guardians are asked to provide at least one emergency contact number at the start of each club season. It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure these numbers are updated as necessary.

Location of First Aid Resources

First Aid resources are always available for use in the following locations:

  •  Each coach to have a Travel first aid kit with them when training &amp; at matches.
  •  First aid kit in the clubhouse
  •  Defibrillator is also available on the front external wall of the clubhouse.

Evaluation

The success of this policy is measured by a set criteria:

  •  Maintaining a relatively accident-free sporting environment.
  •  Positive feedback from coaches, players and parents/carers.
  •  Monitoring and evaluation at club meetings.

Review

This policy was reviewed and updated on 10 March 2022. It will be reviewed again not later than 09 March 2024

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