Physiotherapy Pitchside First Aid and Sports Trauma Management Courses: Rebekah Recommends

This post is not an affiliate link for LUBAS Sports Trauma Management Course, I am sharing my thoughts and feelings on this topic because I want others to know how this course has benefitted my career working in elite sport. I have linked to the LUBAS course and other courses and websites to assist you in your decision making.

When you are working as a pitchside primary carer in sport you need to be prepared for anything!

My busiest game consisted of 4 players off with injuries within the space of 5 minutes. One player had an ankle injury, 2 had suspected concussion, one of which had a laceration to the eyelid and the final came off with a dead leg.

In these situations you have to make a risk assessment of each player quickly. To determine who is your priority to treat, how to keep all your injured players safe and determine who is appropriate to return to the field of play or be removed from play.

Now, a certain level of this management comes down to your injury knowledge and management skills from a Physiotherapy perspective. However, in terms of first aid you need to ensure that you are trained and well prepared for any eventuality.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic the majority of first aid courses were held face to face. Since the pandemic I have seen more and more online courses available too.

My Sports Trauma Management First Aid course of choice is the LUBAS Sports Trauma Management.

Whilst it is one of the more expensive courses on the market, it definitely prepares you for the reality of your job and provides far more training than basic first aid.

Whether you choose LUBAS or another provider for your first aid trauma management here are a few things you need to consider before signing up to a pitchside first aid course.

Physiotherapy Pitchside First Aid Courses: Rebekah Recommends

1. Accreditation

2. Is the First Aid Course appropriate for my Sport?

3. Is the First Aid Course the right level for my practice?

4. How long does the First Aid Course Certification last for?

5. Is the First Aid Course delivered face to face or in person?

6. Will the First Aid Course give me the confidence to do the job?

7. Why I recommend LUBAS Trauma Management Course.

1. Accreditation

Is the First Aid Course that you are researching accredited?

The CSP recognises the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM) as an official professional network and therefore courses associated with the ACPSEM are recognised by the CSP.

2. Is the First Aid Course appropriate for my Sport?

Some sporting bodies have specific requirements as to which First Aid Course or Sports Trauma Management course you are trained by. Something to consider is what type of injuries you are likely to see in the sport and check that the assessment and management are covered in the training.

For example, TT Racing will have a very different injury profile to Football.

Here are a few links to Sporting bodies that have specific requirements:

3. Is the First Aid Course the right level for my practice?

Some questions to ask yourself:

Will you be the only Primary Carer who is pitchside on the day?

WIll you be part of a team where you will be the junior member? Or will you be leading the team?

Are you working at the grass roots level or elite level?

Is the course aimed at healthcare professionals or the general public?

4. How long does the First Aid Course Certification last for?

Course certifications can last a different amount of time so it is important to check before applying.

What is the process for re- qualification?

Do you have to complete an update course or repeat the entire course again?

5. Is the First Aid Course delivered face to face or in person?

I think most Physiotherapists feel that they need a practical element to their training. You must ensure that you are safe when handling injuries.

There is nothing more embarrassing than not knowing how to bandage up an injury quickly when the treatment is time sensitive and all eyes (and cameras) are on you.

6. Will the First Aid Course give me the confidence to do the job?

Something to take into account is whether there is a practical element to the course and are your given time to practice your skills?

Are you observed by the course leader and provided with feedback? Are you given game specific scenarios to practice your prioritisation and injury management decision making?

I’m sure that you have considered a lot of these points already but they are important to consider.

Ultimately, you are out on the pitchside alone and you have to make the decisions to keep your players safe. Sometimes it can be as extreme as life or death therefore you need to have confidence in the level of your training.

7. Why I recommend LUBAS Sports Trauma Management Course.

It is recognised by the ACPSEM as a GOLD Level course. The trainers have first hand experience of working and leading teams at big sporting events. The course is designed for healthcare professionals to provide advanced Trauma Management skills.
The examples provided in the training cover a vast array of sports from football to motorbike racing. The trainers tailor their examples to the sports in the room also.
The course that I attended was perfect for those in a leadership position on the pitch side but would equally be suitable for someone who was part of the primary care team. The drills we went through allowed you to work as each member of the pitchside team.
If you have worked as a Respiratory Physiotherapist or on the wards you will definitely have a headstart on some of the techniques, such as assessing vital signs and using guadels and I-gels.
The certification lasts 3 years and there are opportunities to attend other courses to supplement your learning.
When I attended the course was 2 days face to face but since Covid-19 there is one day of online learning and 1 day face to face training.
I came away from the course with increased confidence in my ability to manage pitchside injuries. Firstly, in the skills that I had been able to transfer from years of hard work as a Physiotherapist and secondly in the new skills and how to adapt my existing skills to lead on match days.

Conclusion

I am sure this post will help you to consider which course you require to make sure you have appropriate training prior to working as a pitchside primary carer.

It is such an exciting role and to enjoy it to its fullest you need to be confident in your injury management skills.

Enjoy whichever course you choose, but for me it has to be the LUBAS Sports Trauma Management Course.

If you are looking for a job as a sports physiotherapist make sure you check out my other sports related blog posts and also download your physiotherapy interview checklist.

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