While the 2021 end of season dinner gets underway at Edgbaston, in another part of the stadium a group of cricket coaches and representatives from clubs across Warwickshire gather to complete or update their first aid training. Joining the group are WCB staff Gabby Basketter and Richard Evans, both due to update their first aid qualifications. “It’s an essential part of our job, particularly given the amount of coaching we do,” says Gabby. “Updating our first aid training is a priority - even if it means missing the Club end of season dinner!”

Their colleague, WCB Cricket Development Officer Alex Roslyn agrees. “Once the cricket season has finished, the winter is an excellent time to consider keeping up to date with training requirements, either as an individual or a club. As well as being a requirement for clubs and coaches, first aid training, for obvious reasons, is arguably the most important training anyone can undertake.”

Following on from the recent WCB article on defibrillators in cricket clubs, we now take a look at the following areas:

  • The importance of investment in first aid training by cricket clubs and community settings where cricket is played,
  • WCB’s provision of first aid training in the West Midlands.

Investing in First Aid training

The wellbeing of participants and members is a primary consideration in any cricket environment. First aid training for coaches is a requirement for the role and an imperative for any properly run cricket session. This also gives reassurance to participants, parents, clubs, and members that if a medical emergency arises, there are people on hand with the necessary training and qualifications to deal with the situation. Of course, most of the time, these medical situations will not be critical or life threatening. From time to time, however, such situations do arise – whether as a result of a cricketing situation or unrelated – and it is important the response is swift and effective.

WCBs First Aid Training provision

It surprises many people that the provision of courses and support delivered by WCB is much wider than just purely cricket coaching. First aid training is one of the key planks of the WCB coach education programme. Alex Roslyn explains, “The WCB usually offers six First Aid courses a year. We have continued to run six courses this year, despite the pandemic and lockdowns. First aid training is of critical importance to clubs, coaches and individuals so we are pleased to be working with a training provider who understands and delivers a course specially developed for sports coaches.”

WCB has worked with first aid specialist Alan Willetts since 1997. Since 2005 a total of 2,300 first aid certificates have been issued by Alan to WCB course participants either at Edgbaston or in local clubs. Alan explains that the training has evolved over the years to meet current requirements. The present course is called ‘Life Support for Sports Coaches’ and covers any sport, including cricket. Alan continues, “I have delivered hundreds of courses at Edgbaston. The skills that participants learn are invaluable, both in a cricket environment and beyond cricket in families, workplaces and communities. The more people that are first aid trained the better. For the sake of three hours of someone’s time attending this course, they can a learn skill that could potentially save a life.”

Subject areas covered on the Life Support for Sports Coaches course

  • Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as appropriate to adults and children
  • An understanding of the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
  • Concussion
  • Sprains & Strains
  • Choking

 

For more information about WCB First Aid courses or coaching programmes generally contact [email protected].