MustHave First Aid Supplies to Keep in Your Lacrosse Coachs Bag

MustHave First Aid Supplies to Keep in Your Lacrosse Coachs Bag

Keep First Aid Essentials Like Gauze Pads Handy

As a lacrosse coach, having the proper first aid supplies can make all the difference when an athlete gets injured during practice or a game. One essential item that every coach should keep handy in their bag is gauze pads. These sterile pads can help stop bleeding and protect wounds when players suffer cuts, scrapes, or more serious lacerations.

Gauze pads come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to select the right one for different types of injuries. For minor cuts or abrasions, 2×2 inch gauze squares work well to cover and protect the wound. For larger gashes or lacerations that are actively bleeding, 4×4 inch pads are better suited to apply direct pressure and absorb blood flow. Non-stick gauze pads are also available for wounds that need dressing coverage but still require breathing and drainage.

As a coach, having an ample supply of gauze on hand is vital. Most kits recommend keeping at least 10-25 sterile gauze pads, as you never know when multiple players might get injured during intense competition and collisions. It’s also smart to have a selection of sizes for versatility. Keep some 2×2 pads for basic first aid needs, then stock up on larger 4×4 and 8×8 pads to manage more significant lacerations and stop heavy bleeding.

Knowing how to properly apply gauze pads is also an important skill for lacrosse coaches. For major cuts or bleeding wounds, apply firm, direct pressure using the gauze and elevate the injured area if possible. Hold steady pressure for 5-10 minutes to control bleeding before checking if it has stopped. If blood soaks through the pad, do not remove it – simply add more gauze on top and continue applying pressure.

Having gauze readily available in your sideline first aid kit gives you the vital supplies to temporarily treat an injured player until more advanced care can be provided. Keep your team covered by making gauze pads a must-have essential in every coach’s equipment bag.

Instant Cold Packs Are Key for Treating Lacrosse Injuries

When players get injured during an intense lacrosse game or practice, having instant cold packs on hand is vital for immediately treating swelling, bruises, and pain. As a coach, keeping a well-stocked supply of instant cold packs in your first aid kit should be a top priority.

Instant cold packs activate upon squeezing or bending and provide crucial cold therapy to reduce swelling, inflammation, and bruising right after an acute injury. Applying cold as soon as possible constricts blood vessels, slowing internal bleeding and fluid build up. This helps minimize the pain and damage to soft tissues and prevents excessive swelling around sprains, strains, contusions, and other common lacrosse wounds.

For muscle, joint, and ligament injuries like twisted ankles or knees, prompt cold therapy within the first 24-48 hours is recommended. Ice packs can also help treat minor burns, cuts, nosebleeds, headaches and more. Having multiple instant cold packs on your sideline gives you the ability to quickly treat multiple players if needed.

Knowing how to properly use instant ice packs is also key. For most injuries, apply the cold pack gently to the wounded area for 10-20 minutes at a time, then allow the skin to return to normal temperature before reapplying. Do not place ice packs directly on bare skin, but wrap them in a light towel to prevent cold burns. Use care with instant cold packs around smaller body parts like hands, wrists, and feet.

Keep in mind that instant cold packs provide short-term, single-use cold therapy, unlike re-freezable ice packs. Stock up on at least 4-6 instant cold packs and replenish your supply frequently. Having these vital cooling packs readily accessible makes a huge difference in being able to promptly treat injured athletes during fast-paced lacrosse games and practices.

Antibiotic Ointment is a Must-Have for Treating Cuts and Scrapes

From high-speed collisions to sticks and balls whizzing by, lacrosse players are prone to suffering cuts, scrapes, and abrasions during intense games and practices. As a coach, keeping antibiotic ointment on hand to treat these minor wounds is essential.

Having antibiotic ointment like Neosporin readily available in your first aid kit allows you to quickly disinfect and protect cuts, lacerations, and scrapes when players get injured. Applying an antibiotic cream helps prevent infection by killing bacteria and speeding healing time.

For minor scratches, gently clean the wound then apply a small amount of ointment and cover with a sterile bandage. For larger abrasions or deep cuts, flush the laceration with sterile saline if possible, before patting dry and applying the antibiotic cream. Reapply ointment 1-2 times per day and change bandages regularly.

Opt for antibiotic ointments containing ingredients like bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B, which are effective against common bacteria that cause infection. Avoid using ointments if a player has sensitivities or allergies to certain antibiotics. In those cases, a simple petroleum jelly can help keep the wound moist and protected.

Having antibiotic ointment in your sideline medical kit enables you to promptly treat the inevitable cuts, scrapes, blisters, and abrasions that can happen during lacrosse games and practices. Keeping those minor wounds clean, disinfected, and covered prevents complications and keeps players safely in the game.

Elastic Wrap Bandages Help Support Injured Joints

Ankle sprains, knee strains, and other joint injuries are common occurrences in the fast-paced, high-impact sport of lacrosse. As a coach, keeping elastic wrap bandages on hand is key for providing compression and support when players suffer these types of injuries.

Elastic or ace bandages are ideal for temporarily stabilizing and protecting injured joints, tendons, and ligaments after acute sprains, strains, and bruises. Wrapping with a bandage compresses the swelling and limits mobility, while also providing much-needed support until a more serious diagnosis can be made.

For ankle injuries, begin wrapping just above the arch of the foot and continue circling the ankle joint snugly, overlapping each wrap by half the bandage width. Do the same technique for wrist sprains and knee strains. Take care not to wrap too tightly or cut off circulation – use just enough tension to safely support movement and play if needed.

It’s smart to keep multiple bandage sizes in your medical supplies – 2 and 3 inch widths work well for smaller joints like wrists and ankles, while 4, 5, and 6 inch widths are better for larger joints like knees and elbows. Breathable cotton-blend bandages also help prevent irritation and discomfort during prolonged use.

Having elastic bandages easily accessible in your coach’s kit enables you to promptly stabilize injured joints, tendons, and ligaments during practices and games. They buy you crucial time to assess the injury and determine whether further medical treatment may be required beyond basic first aid care.

Medical Tape for Securing Dressings and Pads

From wrapping ankles to securing dressings, medical tape is a versatile necessity for every coach’s lacrosse first aid kit. Having a stock of medical tape on hand allows you to properly administer basic care when players get injured.

Medical tapes like adhesive cloth tape or athletic tape enable you to firmly fasten gauze pads, bandages, and ice packs in place over wounds, braces, and swollen areas. The adhesive helps keep dressings secure during intense physical exertion and contact play.

Breathable cotton cloth medical tape tends to be gentlest on skin. For extra strength, waterproof variants or athletic tape offer more rigid support for stabilizing joints and limbs. Tape can also fasten cold packs and hot packs during therapy for muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries.

It’s smart to keep a variety of tape widths and types on hand for versatility. 1-inch rolls work well for general first aid use, while 2-3 inch widths provide more support for taping ankles, wrists, and knees. Pre-cut shaped strips and kinesiology tape are also nice options for targeted application.

Knowing proper taping techniques is also key – anchor the end firmly, overlap edges, apply appropriate tension, and avoid excessive adhesive contact with skin whenever possible. Having medical tape available enables you to safely secure dressings, support injured limbs, and administer care when players get hurt.

Keep Scissors Accessible to Cut Tape and Dressings

Having a good pair of sharp scissors in your lacrosse medical kit is essential for accurately cutting tape, gauze, bandages, and other first aid materials when treating injured players.

A quality pair of stainless steel medical scissors allows you to quickly and precisely cut dressing materials to size for the application you need. You can trim tape to fit neatly over a secured bandage, cut cloth tape for arm or leg wraps, snip gauze pads to size for lacerations, and more.

Look for sturdy, stainless steel scissors with short, blunt ends and curved blades to easily handle rolling and cutting tape and bandage material. Paramedic-style scissors with angled blades work well. Avoid large, sharp scissors that could be unsafe around athletes.

Make sure to keep a pair of medical scissors easily reachable in a separate compartment or pocket of your first aid bag so they don’t become buried under other supplies. Having shears close at hand ensures you can promptly access and cut materials when you need to dress wounds, wrap injuries, or tape joints on the field during practices or games.

Scissors also have multiple other potential first aid uses, like cutting away clothing from burns or injuries, slicing protective tape off blisters, and more. Keeping quality stainless steel medical shears handy provides flexibility and versatility for on-the-fly treatment when injuries occur.

Tweezers to Remove Splinters, Debris from Wounds

In the rough and tumble sport of lacrosse, players often suffer cuts, scrapes and abrasions that can lead to splinters, debris, and other foreign objects getting lodged in their skin. As a coach, keeping a pair of tweezers in your medical supplies can make a big difference.

High-quality splinter tweezers allow you to safely remove small items like wood slivers, fiberglass fragments, dirt particles, and embedded gravel from wounds if players take a tough fall or slide across turf. Tweezers provide precision grip to carefully extract debris and prevent further irritation.

Look for tweezers with fine, slanted tips which provide the best leverage and control for grabbing and pulling out tiny items caught under the skin’s surface. Stainless steel tweezers can be sterilized as needed between uses.

When splinters or embedded items require removal, clean the surrounding skin first. Grip the exposed end with the tweezers tips and gently pull out in the direction the object entered the wound. Apply antibiotic ointment after to prevent infection.

Keep tweezers in an easily accessible first aid kit pouch so they can be grabbed quickly when needed to remove lodge objects during games or practices. Sterilize the tips regularly using rubbing alcohol to maintain sanitary condition. Having reliable splinter tweezers on hand can make a real difference in discomfort when players experience skin punctures and abrasions.

Disposable Gloves Keep Hands Protected When Treating Injuries

When administering first aid care to injured lacrosse players, disposable gloves are a vital supply for keeping your hands clean, dry, and protected.

Having a box of disposable vinyl or nitrile gloves means you can slip them on quickly before treating any wounds, bloody injuries, or illnesses. This provides a protective barrier to limit the spread of germs and viruses as well as keep hands clean when handling medical supplies.

Disposable gloves are especially crucial for direct contact with open wounds, bleeding injuries, vomit, and other bodily fluids. They allow you to apply pressure, dress injuries, and support players without risking contact contamination or infection.

Aim to keep at least 20-30 pairs of gloves in various sizes like small, medium, and large to accommodate different hand sizes. Nitrile gloves tend to be the most durable option for medical use. Avoid latex gloves if any players have sensitivity or allergy risks.

Promptly changing gloves between assisting each injured player further prevents any potential cross-contamination. Keep boxes strategically placed in your first aid kit and sideline bags so gloves can be accessed and put on quickly in urgent situations before rendering care.

CPR Masks for Emergency Resuscitation Preparedness

Though rare in sports, having the ability to perform CPR and provide oxygen in a medical emergency should be part of every lacrosse coach’s first aid preparation. Carrying a CPR mask or face shield can help you respond if a player needs resuscitation or oxygen support.

CPR masks create a protective barrier for providing ventilations or supplemental oxygen if a player loses consciousness or stops breathing on the field. The one-way valves and attached face shields allow you to safely deliver rescue breaths and oxygen without making direct contact if you ever need to perform CPR.

Disposable CPR masks are lightweight and compact so they don’t take up much room in your first aid kit. Try to choose a design with a clear PVC shield to see the player’s face and ensure a good seal during resuscitation. Look for masks that can accommodate portable oxygen cylinders for oxygen delivery if available.

It’s a good idea to be currently certified in CPR skills through a reputable training organization if you will be carrying and utilizing CPR equipment. Proper technique, timing, positioning, and breaths per minute are all vital aspects to understand.

Although needed in only the rarest emergencies, having the capability to safely administer CPR could potentially help save a life on the field. Carrying an emergency CPR face mask and knowing when and how to utilize it properly gives you another level of preparedness as a coach.

Eye Wash Solution to Flush Out Irritants

During an intense lacrosse game, players’ eyes can sometimes get irritated by dirt, debris, sweat, and even hazardous chemicals from turf treatments. Carrying sterile eye wash in your medical kit allows you to help flush out irritants.

Eye wash solutions are designed to quickly rinse away foreign particles, dirt, or chemicals that may get lodged in a player’s eye during competition. Simply spritzing or pouring the sterile saline solution across the eye area helps flush out the irritant and provide relief.

Look for individual eye wash pouches containing buffered, sterile saline solutions that are safe if any liquid gets accidentally ingested. Avoid eye drops, which can contain medications and chemicals not intended for rinse-out use.

Teach players not to touch or rub their eyes if dirt or chemicals get in them, as this can worsen abrasions. Flush eyes for several minutes until the irritation subsides. Seek medical help if vision issues, pain, or redness persists.

While eye injuries are not extremely common in lacrosse, dirt, sweat, and turf chemicals can sometimes create temporary irritation. Having quick access to sterile eye wash on the sidelines enables you to immediately help players flush out and relieve this discomfort during games.

Aloe Vera Gel Soothes Minor Burns

In an outdoor sport like lacrosse played under the hot sun, minor burns from sun exposure or turf friction are a common nuisance. Carrying aloe vera gel in your medical supplies can help soothe and cool these irritating skin injuries.

Having aloe vera gel on hand allows you to promptly apply the soothing liquid to minor burns from turf friction, overexposure to the sun, or accidental contact with hot equipment like safety fences or goals. The naturally cooling gel helps relieve pain and redness.

Look for pure 100% aloe vera gel without added dyes, scents, or chemicals. The pure inner aloe leaf juice works best for medical uses. Generously apply it to the affected burn area without rubbing for fast relief.

For severe burns, seek advanced medical help immediately. But for mild to moderate sunburns, turf burns, friction blisters, and similar injuries, aloe vera can lessen the discomfort so players can finish games and practices comfortably.

Aloe vera gel’s natural cooling properties make it a perfect addition to your on-field first aid kit. Keeping a bottle ready allows you to promptly soothe players’ minor burns and let them continue competing without skipping a beat when irritating skin injuries occur.

Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer for Cleaning Hands

Keeping your hands clean before and after treating injured lacrosse players should be a top priority. Carrying antibacterial hand sanitizer in your medical kit allows for quick sanitizing when soap and water isn’t readily available.

An alcohol-based sanitizing gel or spray enables you to quickly disinfect your hands of dirt, debris, and germs before carefully examining and treating player injuries. Prompt use after contact further prevents carrying any potential infections to other athletes.

Look for a sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, as this is most effective at killing a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses that could be passed from contaminated hands. The gels tend to be gentler on skin than sanitizing wipes.

All you need is a dollop the size of a quarter in your palms to rub thoroughly across all hand surfaces until dry. This kills up to 99.9% of common germs within seconds for clean hands anywhere on the field or sidelines.

Make it standard practice to sanitize before and after direct contact with each injured player as an extra safeguard. Having antibacterial gel close at hand for frequent quick sanitizing further protects the health and safety of both yourself and your players.

Emergency Blankets for Treating Shock

Though serious medical emergencies are uncommon during lacrosse games, emergency blankets are a smart item to have in your first aid supplies when transport to professional care is required.

Foil emergency blankets, also called space or mylar blankets, help treat shock by preventing heat loss and retaining body warmth. Unfolding and wrapping a blanket around an injured or ill player helps stabilize their body temperature during an emergency.

The lightweight, low-bulk blankets reflect radiant heat back to the body. This restores normal temperature regulation if a player goes into circulatory shock from blood loss, illness, or injury trauma. Proper warmth aids vital organ perfusion.

Emergency blankets are also highly visible for signaling your location to EMTs when emergency medical response is needed on the field. They protect against wind and moisture while waiting for transport.

Having a 2-3 lightweight foil blankets in your first aid kit adds negligible weight but could potentially assist in an emergency until professional medics arrive. While not used often, they are one more precaution to cover safety for your lacrosse team.

Fully Stocking First Aid Supplies Keeps Your Team Covered

As a lacrosse coach, ensuring your players’ health and safety should be your top concern. Taking the time to fully stock a sideline first aid kit with all necessary medical supplies provides peace of mind that you can properly care for your athletes.

Having a fully loaded kit ready for action means no delays in urgently needed treatment when injuries occur. Essentials like gauze, bandages, antibiotic creams, tape, gloves, scissors, tweezers, cold packs, and more should be stocked and easily accessible.

Check supplies frequently and restock any depleted items, especially after major use. Make sure nothing is expired, either – replace dated products like ointments, saline wash, and medications. Organize items logically in compartments for quick locating under pressure.

Consider supplementing your kit with bonus items like instant hand warmers, emergency transport splints, trauma shears, and specialized dressings based on your environment. But focus on having all the first aid basics covered in ample quantities.

By being proactive and fully stocking your sideline medical bag with top essentials, you empower yourself to promptly treat any injuries or issues that arise and enable your athletes to keep competing safely. Don’t wait until an emergency to check – stock up now.