Official text of ASEP's &
NFICA's Sport First Aid CourseAbout the Author | Table of Contents | Words of Praise
Most sport injuries don't occur during the game when emergency medical personnel are present. They occur on the practice field, when no one but the coach is around. That's why it's critical that all coaches have a basic knowledge of sport first aid.
Sport First Aid teaches coaches how to prevent sport injuries and how to make the correct decisions during on-field emergency situations. The book describes first-response evaluation and treatment techniques for more than 110 injuries and illnesses. Definitions, causes, symptoms, signs, and first aid protocols are included for each injury and ailment, as well as notes on when the athlete can return to play. This full-color third edition is filled with hundreds of photos and illustrations that bring first aid recognition and administration techniques to life.
Also featured are the latest guidelines on checking the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), administering first aid for choking, and using an AED (automated external defibrillator). Plus it includes the latest information and research on heat-related illnesses and proper hydration. Sport First Aid is a time- and perhaps life-saving reference tool that all coaches should take with them to the sidelines.
In part I coaches learn about the importance of the athletic health care team and how to develop a sport first aid game plan.
Part II explains anatomy and sport injury terminology and basic sport first aid skills. This section covers everything from controlling bleeding to applying a splint, from transporting an injured player to administering CPR.
Part III covers sport first aid for specific injuries and illnesses, addressing more than 110 potential on-field problems. From the serious (musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory conditions, head and spine injuries, internal organ injuries, sudden illnesses, and temperature-related illnesses) to the not so serious (blisters and athlete's foot), coaches will receive step-by-step instruction on the proper way to respond to any situation.
Sport First Aid includes a large appendix of first aid protocols, where standard procedures for first responders are efficiently arranged in flow-chart format to save precious time in emergency situations.
Produced by the American Sport Education Program (ASEP), Sport First Aid serves as the text for ASEP's Sport First Aid Course, endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and numerous other sport organizations as the preferred first aid course for their coaches. Each year, more than 10,000 coaches take this course to further their professional development and meet certification requirements.
Melinda J. Flegel has been a certified athletic trainer since 1984. She is an athletic injury specialist at the University of Illinois SportWell Center, where she oversees sports medicine care for the university's recreational and club sport athletes and consults with coaches, parents, and athletes on injury prevention and care.
As coordinator of outreach services at the Great Plains Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center in Peoria, Illinois, Flegel annually provided assistance to coaches at some 15 schools in the area of sport first aid. As the center's educational program coordinator and American Red Cross CPR instructor, Flegel gained valuable firsthand experience in helping coaches become proficient first responders.
Flegel received a master's degree in physical education from the University of Illinois in 1982. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and National Strength and Conditioning Association, and has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist since 1987. In her leisure time, Flegel enjoys photography, hiking, and crafts.
"A powerful tool that speaks directly to coaches, equipping them to provide emergency medical care to their athletes with confidence." Robert Kanaby, Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations
"An excellent reference for coaches looking for information on the appropriate first response to injuries and illnesses affecting their athletes. The text is well organized and up-to-date, presenting material in a user-friendly format." Jack Redgren, ATC, PT, Director of Sports Medicine, Columbia Centennial Medical Center