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Sports have always been a huge aspect of people’s lives, especially in the United States. Sports date back to ancient times when men used to create games to compete in, sometimes only ending at the death of their opponent. Fortunately, that does not exist today but many men, women, and children enjoy participating in a variety of sporting activities. Some do it to channel their energy and competitiveness, some do it to be fit and lose weight and others participate for the love of the sport. No matter whattype of athlete you are, a strong coach is an important component of athletics. Young children need a coach toshow them how to master a skill or how to play the game, professional athletes need good coaches to ensure that they are playing at their highest level. Coaches today are required to have a huge amount of experience in addition to an education in the sport that they coach. The one component, however, that is not required of all coaches is to be certified to know and use CPR Supplies & the use of a AED (Automatic External Defribrillator). This is one of the many things coaches should be trained in today.

Sports are started at much younger ages these days and the level of competition is alsomuch higher at a young age as well. Kids areplaying a sportparticipating in sports year round rather than playinga different one each season. This is why, more people are competing in sports now than 20 years ago. With that increased population, comes increased risk to the players involved. Increased injuries are happening in sports as athletes push themselves harder than they ever have before. Many younger athletes have watched how lucrative a career in professional sports is and want that for themselves. Because of that pressure to excel in sports, athletes, parents and coaches are feeling the need to push themselves more than they probably should. This is exactly why it is so important for coaches to be trained to handle various medical emergencies.

Coaches should take classes in basic first aid and CPR to begin with. It is required for a teacher so why is it not required for coaches who push their athletes physically? They should learn basic first aid techniques such as sprains, broken bones, cuts,etc. More importantly, they shouldknow CPR and how to use CPR Supplies and a AED in case an athletecan’t breathe and collapses. Immediately starting CPR can actually save someone’s life in those crucial minutes before the ambulance arrives. All coaches should also have the necessary items to revive someone who has passed out. Several years ago a young strong college basketball player collapsed on the court anddied. If they had had an AED they could have used it to save his life. Another better ending is a story of a teenage girl who was playing softball on a summer night. She was struck by lightning on the softball diamond and the coach used the AED and CPR supplies on her and restarted her heart and saved her life.

Filed under: Recreation and Sports on May 24th, 2009