First Aid and Emergency Response

During 2007 the Irish Orienteering Association organised and part-financed a series of REC (Rescue & Emergency Care) courses. Following on from these courses, recommended club first-aid and emergency-response kit lists have been developed. The IOA are very grateful to David Masterson (Setanta), Pat Reid (REC Instructor) and Ray Murphy for their assistance in compiling these lists.

These kits are only recommendations. Individual clubs are responsible for having appropriate first aid equipment and trained personnel at their events.

Subsidy

In its 2008 budget the IOA has agreed a subsidy of €200 per club towards the cost of purchasing and/or maintaining these club kits. The money will be paid to the clubs on presentation of valid receipts to the IOA Treasurer.

First-Aid Kit

(Suitable as the main first-aid equipment store at an event)

This kit includes plenty of supplies to deal with most first-aid requirements likely to be encountered at an orienteering event. Sports injury specific supplies are included (ice-pack, blister plasters, etc…) to deal with sore competitors seeking help after an event. The kit is quite large, but you may use up supplies quickly if you were required to deal with several injuries during the course of an event.

[unordered_list style=”bullet”]

• 2 x Large Ambulance Dressing
• 6 x Medium Ambulance Dressing
• 5 x 10cm Melolin Dressing
• 4 Sets of Wound Closures
• Assorted Plasters
• Blister Plasters (Compeed)
• 3 x 3” Conforming Bandage
• 3 x 3” Crepe Bandage
• 6 x Triangular Bandages
• 2 x Sam Splints
• CPR Mask
• Safety Glasses
• 5 pairs Vinyl Gloves (not latex, for allergies)
• Medical Tape
• Vaseline
• Sterile Wipes
• Deep Freeze Spray (or disposable Ice pack)
• Savlon Antiseptic Spray
• Saline Solution (150ml – in squeezy bottle)
• Shears
• Tweezers
• Penlight
• Waterproof paper & pencil

[/unordered_list]

Emergency Response Kit

(For quick deployment to scene of incident)

The idea of this kit is to protect the casualty from the elements and prevent the onset of hypothermia, while awaiting further medical aid. Basic first aid equipment is included for immediately life threatening injuries (major blood loss, cardiac arrest), but the priority at this stage is to keep the casualty warm, stable and comfortable. This kit should be packed into a suitable backpack for rapid transport to the site of an accident, be it on a hillside or in a forest.

[unordered_list style=”bullet”]

• Foam Sleeping Mat
• Kishu (Emergency Shelter – 6-man or larger size)
• 2 x Bivvy Bags (double size)
• 4 pairs Vinyl Gloves
• Safety Glasses
• Head Torch + Batteries
• Whistle
• Disposable heat packs
• Warm Hat/Mitts – maybe full set of dry fleecy clothes?
• 2 x Large Ambulance Dressings
• 2 x Medium Ambulance Dressings
• 2 x 3” Crepe Bandage
• 2 x 3” Conforming Bandage
• CPR Mask
• Roll of Duck Tape
• Saline Solution (in squeezy bottle)
• Shears
• Waterproof paper & pencil

[/unordered_list]