I attended some rugby matches between two prominent primary schools recently.
I am concerned about a rugby player getting injured with no ambulance on site. The injured player was left on a stretcher with what looked like contracted medics tending to him from time to time. I don’t know what their background or qualifications were. I was concerned that the player was left next to the field for at least 45 minutes (without any blankets in the cold – it was after 4.30pm) until the ambulance eventually arrived.
I then inquired about what would happen if a second player was injured as I did not see another stretcher around. The ‘medic’ told me that he didn’t know, that “he just works here” and that “I had to speak to his boss”. His ‘boss’ visited me later, very defensive. He informed me that there was another stretcher “in the bin”.
I don’t know where the bin was, but it was not next to the field. He also wanted to know if I was medically qualified, which I am not. I don’t know what the required medical assistance/ emergency standards are at such primary school rugby matches, or who is responsible for them, or who is responsible for monitoring adherence to the standards.
However, I think the matter should be investigated to avoid a real crisis and to give parents the assurance that their children are safe with the necessary support available should there be an injury.
I am not the parent of the injured player, but I am concerned about the matter.
