SCRUMCAPS First Aid: Level 1

Injuries are a part of any contact sport. Serious or life-threatening injury in rugby is, however, rare. The outcome of many injuries can often be improved by very simple first aid skills from bystanders until emergency help arrives.

Scottish Rugby has launched a brand new SCRUMCAPS First Aid course to help deliver more Level 1 courses across the country as part of our commitment to improving Player Welfare. The new course consists of 3 modules with a blended style of learning and this allows module 2, the face to face module to be delivered over half a day, making completion of the course accessible to more people. The new course replaces the World Rugby FAIR course in our educational offering although we continue to recognise this qualification.

The course is suitable for anyone who is undertaking the role of first aider for a team and requires no previous healthcare or first aid knowledge. It can therefore be taken by coaches, match officials, players and volunteers.

As detailed in the Player Welfare Action Plan, level 1 First Aid providers are a fundamental part of the minimum standards to improve Pitchside Care

Course Content

On successful completion of the course, a pitch side responder will be able to:

Plan and risk assess for potential emergency situations at sports grounds
Appreciate safety hazards for a first aider
Protect the neck and perform an assessment of airway, breathing and circulation
Recognise the difficulties in telling major and minor injury apart in the early stages – particularly head injuries
Recognise cardiac arrest and perform effective basic life support and safe defibrillation
Initially manage a potentially spinally injured player safely in an emergency situation
Understand the role of the first aider in the chain of survival
Manage common limb injuries including sprains, strains and fractures
Activate appropriate help

Course Outline

To achieve the complete SCRUMCAPS First Aid level 1 qualification, individuals will need to complete a total of 5 modules. 4 of these modules are online and will take no more than an hour to complete each of them. Module 2 is a practical module and will be delivered by Scottish Rugby Medical Educators* and will last no more than 3.5 hours.

Prior to attending module 2 (face to face) the participant will need to complete the concussion module within Rugby Right, the First Responders course and module 1 of SCRUMCAPS to unlock the ability to book a place on module 2. After the participant has successfully attended module 2 they will be sent an email with the link to complete module 3 which completes the course.

*Healthcare professional or other persons who hold a relevant immediate care qualification and have pitch side experience and have completed a Medical Educators course.

Assessment

Completion of online pre-requisites and all 3 modules. Module 2 is competency based and assessed continuously. It is highly practical and can be undertaken either indoors or outdoors as weather allows so be prepared for this.

Payment

Scottish Rugby is able to subsidise the course cost for those working within our member and associate clubs and schools to grow the game at a price of £50.

Entry Requirements and Prerequisites

Candidates are required to be 14 years of age or over before they can be registered for qualification. They must also provide evidence of having completed the following: