FIRST AID FOR LITTLE LEAGUE COACHES & OFFICIALS
Based on American Heart Association (AHA) First Aid Guidelines
For Community Education Purposes Only – Not a Certification

1. FIRST AID PRIORITIES

Your role as a coach or official is to:
 Recognize when something is wrong
 Protect yourself and others
 Activate 911 quickly for serious conditions
 Provide basic first aid until EMS arrives
 Follow league incident-reporting policies

Steps for every emergency:
1. Ensure the scene is safe
2. Put on gloves, if available
3. Assess responsiveness
4. Send someone to call 911 and bring the First Aid kit & AED
5. Provide care based on your training
6. Stay with the athlete until help arrives

2. WHEN TO CALL 911

Activate EMS immediately if the athlete has:
 Trouble breathing or speaking
 Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
 Decreased responsiveness or altered mental status
 Signs of concussion
 Suspected head, neck, or spine injury
 Large deformity of an arm or leg
 Severe allergic reaction
 Uncontrolled seizure
When in doubt → Call 911.

3. UNRESPONSIVE ATHLETE

If Not Breathing Normally – Hands-Only CPR
 Place one hand on top of the other in the center of the chest
 Press hard and fast, at least 2 inches deep
 Compress at 100–120 beats per minute
 Allow full chest recoil
 Continue until the AED arrives or EMS takes over
 Use AED as soon as it becomes available

Using an AED
 Turn it on
 Follow voice prompts
 Apply pads as shown
 Stand clear when shock is advised
 Resume chest compressions immediately
 Know the AED location at your field
If Breathing Normally
 Place in recovery position
 Continue to monitor breathing frequently — condition may change

4. CONTROL OF BLEEDING

Direct Pressure
 Apply firm, steady pressure with gauze, cloth, or gloved hands
 Do not remove the first layer if soaked — add layers on top

Severe Bleeding
 Maintain strong pressure continuously
 Use a tourniquet only if trained and equipment is available
 Call 911

5. HEAD INJURIES & CONCUSSIONS

Common symptoms include:
 Headache, dizziness
 Nausea or vomiting
 Confusion or slow responses
 Difficulty walking
 Loss of consciousness (even briefly)

Care:
 Remove athlete from play immediately
 Monitor closely
 Call 911 for worsening symptoms
 Follow league return-to-play requirements (often medical clearance needed)

6. EYE INJURIES

 Do not apply pressure
 Rinse gently if dust or small debris
 For any impact → cover both eyes and call 911
 Do not allow rubbing
 Do not attempt to remove any object stuck in the eye

7. DENTAL INJURIES

If a tooth is knocked out:
 Hold by the crown, not the root
 Rinse gently with clean water (do not scrub)
 Store in milk, saline, or the athlete’s saliva
 Seek urgent dental care (ideally within 30 minutes)

8. HEAT EMERGENCIES

Hydration & Prevention
 Encourage athletes to hydrate before, during, and after activity
 Schedule hydration breaks during games and practices
 Promote regular drinking — don’t wait for thirst

Heat Exhaustion
Signs: sweating, pale skin, headache, nausea, dizziness
Care: move to shade, cool with water/ice packs, o􀆯er water if alert

Heat Stroke (Life-Threatening)
Signs: confusion, altered mental status, hot skin, collapse
Care:
 Call 911 immediately
 Begin rapid cooling (ice towels, cold water) until EMS arrives

9. ALLERGIC REACTIONS & ANAPHYLAXIS

Signs: swelling of lips/tongue, difficulty breathing, hives, wheezing, collapse
Care:
 Use prescribed EpiPen immediately
 Press firmly into the outer thigh for 3–10 seconds
 Call 911
 If symptoms persist and a second auto-injector is available, repeat after 5–15
minutes

10. ASTHMA EMERGENCIES

Signs: wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, trouble speaking
Care:
 Help athlete use their rescue inhaler
 Have them sit upright
 Follow inhaler instructions; many allow a second dose after several minutes if
symptoms persist
 Call 911 if breathing does not improve

11. BROKEN BONES & SPRAINS

Signs: pain, swelling, bruising, inability to use limb, deformity
Care:
 Do not straighten deformities
 Keep the injured area still
 Apply ice (20 minutes on / 20 o􀆯)
 Call 911 for severe deformity or inability to bear weight

12. INCIDENT DOCUMENTATION

Coaches should:
 Complete the league’s incident report form and notify Safety Officer
 Record what happened and what care was provided
 Notify parents/guardians promptly
 Maintain confidentiality

13. QUICK REFERENCE CHECKLIST
✔ Know location of First Aid kit & AED
✔ Maintain hydration breaks
✔ Remove from play after any suspected concussion
✔ Call 911 for all serious injuries
✔ Stay with athlete until EMS arrives