On Sunday 11 March, Pro Coaching Academy coaches Suzy and Chris attended the FA Level 2 Emergency First Aid In Football EFAiF course at West Riding County FA.

All registered coaches, actively coaching within the game have to hold an in date first aid qualification, which is valid for 3 years.

The course was delivered by FA tutor Dave Alderson.  It focused on best practises of first aid within football.  Topics covered included the roles and duties of a first aider, assessment of the unresponsive player, basic life support, CPR with an automated external defibrillator, wounds and bleeding, soft tissue injuries, bone fractures, injuries to neck and spine and other medical emergencies.  Apart from Dave’s dodgy choice of YouTube video’s, he was an amazing tutor, with  fantastic knowledge and a style of tutoring which made the day just fly by.

On a serious note, after the course and in conversation with Dave and the other candidates, Pro Coaching Academy are looking into the possibility of purchasing of an automated external defibrillator, AED, for the clubs they work at.  With 270 children a year dying in the UK from sudden cardiac arrest, if an AED can be used effectively within the first 3 to 5 minutes, the chances of survival go from 6% to over 70%.

Head coach and Pro Coaching Academy director Chris said in conversation, ‘After the excellent training yesterday we feel deeply that an AED is something we must seriously look at as part of our first aid kit.  If it saves just one players life, then it has been worthwhile.  These devices are extremely expensive, well over a £1000, and we are looking at ways in which we can fund this.  If any companies out there would be interested in sponsoring the device, something we know has happened in other areas and clubs, then please get in touch.’