Are high schools adequately prepared to cope with serious rugby injuries?

A survey of 29 Western Cape high schools showed that 45% of schools had either no or an inappropriate stretcher available for the treatment of injured first-team rugby players, that 35% did not provide splints for the immobilization of limb fractures, and that 59% had no neck braces available. All schools provided field-side medical care for at home first-team rugby matches; in 21% of cases a doctor was always present and in a further 41% trained first-aid personnel were available, but 38% of the schools relied on rugby coaches. Furthermore only 62% of all first-team rugby coaches had some rudimentary training in the management of rugby injuries. Of the 38% of coaches who had received no training in first aid, fully 73% provided the sole field-side medical cover for rugby injuries. When questioned about the management of serious head and neck injuries, 93% of coaches were unaware that before a conscious player with a head injury is moved he must be asked whether or not his neck hurts, and 80% were unaware that an unconscious player should be treated as if he has an unstable neck injury. The implications of these findings are discussed.