First Aid for Athletes Course

Lesson 1 • Legal and Ethical Considerations

Covers consent, liability protection, and documentation obligations for first responders. Grounds students in ethical decision-making before any hands-on skill is introduced.

Lesson 2 • Role of the Athletic First Responder

Defines scope of practice and duty of care for non-medical responders at sporting events. Establishes the responder's position within the broader sports medicine team.

Lesson 3 • Injury Epidemiology in Sport

Presents data on injury frequency, type, and sport-specific risk factors. Helps students prioritize which conditions to master first based on real-world prevalence.

Lesson 4 • Anatomy Essentials for Responders

Introduces musculoskeletal and cardiovascular anatomy relevant to common athletic injuries. Provides the anatomical vocabulary needed throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Communicating Assessment Findings

Trains structured handoff communication to emergency services and medical staff. Ensures continuity of care when transferring athlete responsibility.

Lesson 2 • Primary Survey Fundamentals

Teaches the ABCDE framework to identify life-threatening conditions within the first minutes. Forms the non-negotiable first step before any treatment decision.

Lesson 3 • Neurological and Cognitive Screening

Introduces standardized tools for assessing consciousness, orientation, and cognitive function. Prepares students for concussion and spinal injury evaluation in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Vital Signs Monitoring

Instructs students to measure and interpret pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and temperature. Establishes baselines for tracking athlete deterioration or improvement.

Lesson 1 • Adult CPR Technique

Delivers step-by-step instruction in compression-only and rescue-breath CPR for adults. Builds psychomotor skill through repetition before AED integration.

Lesson 2 • Airway Management Techniques

Covers manual airway maneuvers and basic adjuncts appropriate for non-medical responders. Supports effective ventilation during CPR and respiratory emergencies.

Lesson 3 • Post-Resuscitation Care

Addresses recovery position, monitoring, and emotional support after a resuscitation event. Prepares students to maintain the athlete until advanced care arrives.

Lesson 4 • Recognizing Cardiac Emergencies

Distinguishes sudden cardiac arrest from other causes of collapse using assessment skills from Chapter 2. Emphasizes early recognition as the key determinant of survival.

Lesson 1 • Hemorrhage Control Principles

Teaches direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquet application for severe bleeding. Prioritizes life-threatening hemorrhage control as the first treatment action.

Lesson 2 • Internal Bleeding Recognition

Identifies signs of internal hemorrhage from abdominal, thoracic, and pelvic trauma. Guides urgent transport decisions when external wound care is insufficient.

Lesson 3 • Dressing and Bandaging Techniques

Instructs students in sterile dressing selection and bandaging for various body regions. Ensures wounds are protected without compromising circulation.

Lesson 4 • Skin Injuries and Blisters

Manages abrasions, turf burns, blisters, and subungual hematomas common in sport. Prevents infection and enables athletes to continue participation when appropriate.

Lesson 1 • Muscle Strains and Contusions

Differentiates strains from contusions and covers management for hamstring, quadriceps, and calf injuries. Builds on anatomical knowledge to guide palpation and treatment.

Lesson 2 • Fracture Recognition and Splinting

Teaches signs of fracture, neurovascular assessment, and splinting principles for upper and lower extremities. Prevents secondary injury during transport.

Lesson 3 • Sprains and Ligament Injuries

Classifies sprain severity and teaches assessment and immediate management for each grade. Ankle and knee sprains receive emphasis due to their high prevalence in sport.

Lesson 4 • Joint Dislocations

Covers recognition and field management of shoulder, finger, and patella dislocations. Emphasizes when to immobilize and when to refer without reduction attempts.

Lesson 1 • Scalp and Skull Injury Assessment

Distinguishes scalp lacerations from skull fractures and identifies signs of intracranial pressure. Guides appropriate urgency of referral based on clinical findings.

Lesson 2 • Facial and Dental Trauma

Covers assessment and field management of lacerations, nasal fractures, eye injuries, and avulsed teeth. Prioritizes airway protection alongside soft-tissue care.

Lesson 3 • Cervical Spine Injury Management

Teaches manual in-line stabilization, helmet management, and safe transport for suspected spinal injuries. Builds on airway management skills from Chapter 3.

Lesson 4 • Concussion Recognition and Assessment

Applies neurological screening tools from Chapter 2 to identify concussion signs and symptoms. Stresses that no athlete with suspected concussion returns to play the same day.

Lesson 1 • Respiratory Emergencies in Athletes

Addresses exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, asthma attacks, and pneumothorax recognition. Guides inhaler-assisted management and urgent referral decisions.

Lesson 2 • Anaphylaxis Recognition and Epinephrine Use

Teaches rapid identification of anaphylaxis and correct auto-injector technique. Connects to CPR skills for cases progressing to cardiac arrest.

Lesson 3 • Cold-Related Emergencies

Covers hypothermia staging, frostbite assessment, and safe rewarming techniques for outdoor athletes. Emphasizes preventing further heat loss before transport.

Lesson 4 • Heat-Related Illness Management

Differentiates heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and exertional heat stroke by severity and treatment urgency. Cold-water immersion is presented as the gold standard for heat stroke.

Lesson 1 • Simulation and Scenario Practice

Uses high-fidelity scenarios to integrate assessment, treatment, and communication skills under pressure. Identifies performance gaps before real-event deployment.

Lesson 2 • Equipment Readiness and Inspection

Establishes protocols for inspecting, maintaining, and restocking first aid equipment before events. Ensures no equipment failure occurs during an actual emergency.

Lesson 3 • Emergency Action Plan Development

Guides creation of venue-specific emergency action plans covering roles, equipment, and communication. Integrates all prior clinical skills into an organized operational framework.

Lesson 4 • Multi-Casualty Incident Management

Introduces triage principles and resource allocation when multiple athletes are injured simultaneously. Applies START triage to prioritize care under resource constraints.