Most sport is generally safe to participate in. However, sport remains an inherently physical activity and some risk of injury is inevitable. It is essential to have an adequate first aid kit to hand. But what should an ‘adequate’ sports first aid kit contain?
Here is a list of some basic items we think all good sports first aid kits should hold to allow immediate ‘pitch side’ treatment. This list is broken down into categories, based on the types of sport injury you need to be able to deal with:
Soft Tissue Injuries
(e.g. Sprains, strains and bruises)
- Cold packs and/or ice
- Bandages
- Strapping tape
Wounds and Abrasions
- ‘Roll-Type’ first aid dressings
- Dressing pads
- Bandages
- Medical tape (e.g. micropore)
- Adhesive dressings
- Sterile saline or fresh tap water
- Wipes
- Medical gloves
Eye Injuries
- Eyewash pods
- Eye pads
- Bandages
Medical Emergencies
(e.g. Fractures, shock, non-responsive casualties)
- Face shield or pocket mask
- Splinting material (e.g. flexi splint / SAM splint)
- Foil blankets and/or fabric blankets
Important Extras
- Decent scissors and/or Tufkut scissors
- Triangular bandages
- Clinical waste bags
- Gauze or non-woven swabs
Optional Extras
- Safety pins
- Hand and surface sanitizer
- Antiseptic
- Tissues
- Wound closures / Steri-Strips
We’ve tried to keep this list to absolute essentials – for instance we haven’t covered other important medical items (such as stretchers and frac immobilizers) that don’t fit inside a first aid kit. Nor have we dealt with more ‘thorny’ topics such as concussion or sudden cardiac arrest. Even so, just one copy of every item on this list would fill a small-to-medium first aid bag. You will need to think about what’s practical for you to carry, and whether you’re responsible only for your own safety or for that of other people too. For instance, if you go mountain biking alone you probably won’t be able to carry a kit of this size and may not feel the need. But if, on the other hand, you’re coaching organized team sport and still think this list is impractical you will have to adjust your arrangements to make it practical because you DO need this stuff.
We offer a wide range of ready-made first aid kits for sport. You can browse them here: https://www.physical-sports.co.uk/sports-first-aid-products/sports-first-aid-kits/
Physical Sports Limited sells first aid and medical supplies for the treatment of sports injuries. | www.Physical-Sports.co.uk | 01943 662 155
Physical Sports First Aid Blog 
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