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The FA · free preview

Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF)

The first-aider on the touchline: the A–E approach, cardiac arrest, medical emergencies and concussion.

£30 · about 3 hours 10 minutes · online · age 16+ · included in the Introduction to Coaching Football

Take the courseCreate a free accountCourse fee: £30 in-game · with Full AccessCourse fees are in-game money, paid from your in-game wallet — never real money.

Free lesson · The role of a first-aider

What a football first-aider is for

Football is a safe sport on the whole, but it gathers predictable risks in one place: collisions, sudden stops at speed, heat and cold, hard exertion by players who may carry a heart condition nobody has found, and crowds on the touchline. Your job as a first-aider is to bridge the gap between the moment something goes wrong and the moment professional help arrives.

  1. Preserve life — the casualty's and your own. Scene safety comes before you touch anyone.
  2. Prevent deterioration — spot problems early, position the casualty correctly, keep still what should stay still, keep them warm.
  3. Promote recovery — reassure, give the right first aid and hand over quickly and clearly to professional care.

This course follows the Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF), the first rung of The FA's pitch-side medical ladder: about 3 hours 10 minutes online, open from age 16, and valid for 3 years. England Football Accredited junior teams need at least one coach holding it in date, alongside Safeguarding and the Introduction to Coaching Football.

Source: Specialist & support roles reference · Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF)

The syllabus: 5 modules, 20 lessons

  1. 1

    The role of a first-aider

    • What a football first-aider is for free preview
    • The pitch-side medical ladder and your scope
    • Your duties, the law and consent
    • Calling for help and keeping a record
  2. 2

    The A–E approach

    • D and R: danger and response
    • A and B: open the airway, check breathing
    • C, then D and E: bleeding, shock and the rest of the check
    • The recovery position and the injured neck
  3. 3

    Sudden cardiac arrest

    • Recognising sudden cardiac arrest
    • CPR: the numbers that matter
    • The defibrillator (AED)
    • The chain of survival and your Emergency Action Plan
  4. 4

    Medical emergencies

    • Asthma and anaphylaxis
    • Diabetic emergencies and seizures
    • Heat and cold
    • Choking
  5. 5

    Concussion

    • What concussion is
    • Recognising it: clues, symptoms and red flags
    • If in doubt, sit them out
    • The graduated return to play