Hello everyone. Today, I will introduce sports first aid. Sports first aid refers to the immediate actions taken when athletes or other people experience sudden illness or accidental injuries during physical activities. Its purpose is to protect life and reduce the severity of injuries. Common emergencies in sports include fainting, cardiac arrest, heat stroke, fractures, bleeding, and head injuries. Therefore, coaches and sports athletic trainers should have basic first-aid knowledge. When someone suddenly collapses, first ensure that the scene is safe. Then check the person's responsiveness and normal breathing. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, ask someone to call emergency services at 119 in Taiwan and bring an AED, which stands for Automated External Defibrillator. Start CPR immediately. For adult CPR, place your hands in the center of the chest. The compression rate should be 100 to 120 compressions per minute, with a depth of approximately 5 to 6 centimeters. Allow the chest to fully recoil after each compression. If you are trained and willing to provide rescue breaths, use a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. When the AED arrives, follow its voice instructions. Heat-related illnesses can also occur during sports. If someone develops confusion, seizures, or unconsciousness, heat stroke should be suspected. Activate emergency medical services immediately and begin rapid whole-body cooling. Cold-water immersion is one effective method. For severe bleeding, apply direct pressure using clean dressings. If a fracture is suspected, avoid unnecessary movement of the injured area and seek medical assistance. In conclusion, the most important principles of sports first aid are staying calm, ensuring safety, assessing the situation quickly, and requesting help when necessary. Knowing CPR, AED operation, and emergency procedures can help save lives during critical situations.

Implemented by Department of Exercise and Health Sciences
Date: 2026/10/08