First Aid Volunteering

Quadball is a contact sport, usually with multiple matches running at a time, which means volunteer First Aiders are an essential part of Quadball tournaments in the UK. Every match at a QUK tournament will have a first aider on duty at the side of the pitch to help out whenever needed.

As a first aider, you are responsible for assessing potential injuries and advising players and other volunteers on the best course of action, along the lines of QUK injury and concussion policies, as well as providing basic treatment for a number of potential injuries.

Whilst most of your assessments at the pitch will be independent, the majority of QUK tournaments are supported by Epione Medical Services, so you will have onsite support whenever you need it, as well as professional help to deal with infrequent serious injury. Volunteering as a First Aider means that you can help keep tournaments running smoothly and do your part to make sure that everyone can keep playing safely and in good health.

First Aider Requirements

In order to volunteer at a QUK tournament you must hold a valid first aid qualification which has been deemed adequate for managing the sorts of injuries seen in quadball. You must also familiarise yourself with QuadballUK's concussion protocol.

Sufficient First Aid Qualifications

The following list of qualifications have been confirmed as adequate by our first aid partners, Epione Medical. If you have one of these qualifications, you are certified to act as a First Aider at a QuadballUK tournament.

First Aid at Work
Emergency First Aid at Work
St John’s Ambulance - Basic Sports First Aid
Girlguiding First Response qualification
RYA (Royal Yachting Association) First Aid
Sports First Aid - Safety First Aid Training (SFAT)
European First Aid Certificate
Red Cross First Aid for Sports
FA Level 2 Emergency First Aid in Football
Qualsafe QA Level 2 Award in Activity First Aid (RQF)
ITC Certificate in Outdoor First Aid at SCQF Level 6
TQUK Level 2 Award in First Aid for Sport (RQF)
STCW Elementary First Aid

Insufficient First Aid Qualifications

The following first aid qualifications are not sufficient to act as a volunteer First Aider at a QuadballUK tournament.

St John’s Ambulance - Essential First Aid (All Ages)
St John’s Ambulance - Essential First Aid (Adult)
Basic First Aid at Work (1/2 day)
FRFA Sports Injury First Aid (1/2 day)
Any paediatric First Aid qualifications

This is because they do not include content which is relevant to the sorts of injuries that are likely to occur at competitive quadball tournaments.

If you have a first aid qualification which is not listed on this page, please get in touch using the contact form at the bottom of this page before registering to volunteer at a tournament, so we can verify whether the qualification covers the required material.

Medical professionals

If you are currently holding an existing qualification to work as one of the following professions, you are also qualified to volunteer as a First Aider at QuadballUK Tournaments:

Paramedic
Doctor
Lifeguard (if qualification is still valid)

The following positions are not sufficient:

Medical students
Vets and veterinary students

If you have any queries about whether your profession qualifies you to volunteer as a first aider at QuadballUK tournaments please get in touch using the form at the bottom of this page.

Concussion protocol

First Aiders must familiarise themselves with QuadballUK's Concussion Protocol before attending tournaments. In a full-contact sport such as quadball, concussions may occur and can have severe consequences, so it is crucial that any suspected concussions are taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.

First Aid Meetings

At each tournament we require that First Aiders attend the First Aid Meeting, organised by our medical partners, Epione Medical. They will give volunteers a brief rundown of protocols, when to call for EMT assistance, the location of the First Aid tent, and how to report injuries to the medical team during a tournament.

A first aid refresher meeting will also be available for those wishing to attend one before the start of the season.

Qualification expiry for 2021-22 season

Normally we require First Aiders to hold a valid first aid qualification which has not expired by the time the tournament takes place. However, we understand that the Coronavirus pandemic may have made renewing qualifications on refresher courses more difficult than usual for most volunteers. Therefore, we will be accepting anyone whose qualification has expired within the six months before a given tournament, provided that they attend a first aid refresher meeting before volunteering at a tournament.