Game Day Emergencies? Think Like A Medic When Packing Your First Aid Kit

February 14 2025

Pittsburgh travel baseball

Tips On How To Prioritize Like A Medic Before And During An Emergency - From An Actual Medic 🚑

As a sports parent, you’ve likely dealt with everything from minor scrapes to more serious injuries on the field. Being prepared with a well-organized first aid kit and knowing how to prioritize care can make all the difference.

👋🏼 Hi, I’m Jen, Co-Founder of McKeesport Baseball Tournaments who is also a paramedic. My experience in emergency medicine taught me the importance of the ABC Rule in critical situations:

A – Airway: Ensure the person can breathe. If not, call 911 immediately.
B – Breathing: Check if they’re breathing normally. If not, start CPR and call 911.
C – Circulation: Stop severe bleeding with direct pressure or a tourniquet, and call 911.

A well-stocked first aid kit is essential but knowing how to use it is just as important. Organize your supplies for quick access, learn how to use each item, and keep the kit in an easily reachable spot.

Prepare like a paramedic and stay ready for game day emergencies. With the right knowledge and tools, you can confidently manage injuries and keep cheering from the sidelines!

Disclaimer & Transparency

🚩 Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or emergency. If you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical assistance. The author and publisher are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this article.

🛒 Amazon Associates Program

At McKeesport Baseball Tournaments, we’re part of the Amazon Associates Program, which means we earn a small commission when you purchase items through our affiliate links—at no extra cost to you. This partnership allows us to recommend quality products tailored to your needs, support the website’s operations, and create even more valuable baseball-related content.

We are committed to transparency and only recommend items we genuinely trust. Each affiliate link is clearly disclosed, ensuring you shop with confidence. Your purchases help us cover operational costs, improve resources, and offer in-depth guides, tutorials, and reviews—all designed with you in mind.

Thank you for supporting McKeesport Baseball Tournaments! If you have questions or suggestions for product reviews, reach out at hello@playMBT.com. Together, we’ll keep delivering great content and resources to enhance your baseball experience.

Product Links

As a sports parent, you’ve seen it all - scrapes, sprains,

nosebleeds, and the occasional “I’m totally fine” followed by limping off the field.

While coaches and trainers do their best, being prepared with a

well-stocked first aid kit can make all the difference when injuries happen.

👋🏼 I'm Jen.

You probably know me as Miss Jen, Co-Founder and Fan Experience Director of McKeesport Baseball Tournaments. Long before I became Miss Jen, I became a paramedic. Here's my advice about how to prepare your first aid kit for the upcoming tournament season.

🤕🤕🤕

Instead of tossing random supplies into a bag, plan and prioritize your kit like a paramedic.

Even more important than what’s inside your kit is knowing how to prioritize in an emergency.

That’s where the ABC Rule comes in.

🚨 The Emergency ABCs: What to Do First for a Serious Injury

When faced with an injury, paramedics always follow the ABC method:

1️⃣ A – Airway: Can the injured person breathe? If they’re choking, struggling to breathe, or unconscious, their airway may be blocked. - ⚠️ This is an emergency! Call 911 before doing anything else.
2️⃣ B – Breathing: Are they breathing normally? Look for signs of distress, gasping, or shallow breathing. If they’re not breathing, start CPR immediately. ⚠️ This is an emergency! Call 911 before doing anything else.
3️⃣ C – Circulation: Is there severe bleeding? Stopping major bleeding is a top priority—apply direct pressure or use a tourniquet if needed. ⚠️ This is an emergency! Call 911 before anything else.

👉 Pro tip: If you are directing care and need an ambulance, make eye contact and point directly at one person, specifically say to them, "I need you to call 911 right now," in a calm and firm tone. Many times, when a group hears a direction but isn't specifically directed to accomplish the task, there can be a delay in communication because everyone thinks someone else is doing the task.

🎒 What to Pack: A First Aid Kit That Works

Breathing & Airway Support (A & B)

Why? Asthma, allergic reactions, or a hit to the throat can make it hard to breathe.

CPR face shield (for rescue breaths)
Inhaler & spacer (if your child has asthma, need a doctor's prescription)
EpiPen (if prescribed for severe allergies, need a doctor's prescription)
Nitrile gloves (to protect yourself when giving care)
Oral Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

Bleeding & Wound Care (Circulation – "C")

Why? Cuts, scrapes, and nosebleeds are the most common sports injuries, but deep wounds can become life-threatening.

Sterile gauze pads & medical tape
Antiseptic wipes & antibiotic ointment
Liquid bandage (great for blisters and minor cuts)
Tourniquet (for severe bleeding—only use as a last resort)

Injury & Pain Management

Why? Sprains, bruises, and fractures happen often—be ready to support and reduce pain.

Instant cold packs (for bumps and sprains)
Elastic bandages (for wrapping sprains)
Finger splints (for jammed fingers—common in baseball & basketball)
Coban (self-sticking bandages that don't have adhesive that sticks to skin - modern medicine's most perfect product)
Pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)

Emergency Must-Haves

Why? Having the right info on hand can save critical time in an emergency.

Emergency contact binder (coach, parents, doctor)
Emergency space blanket (for shock or cold weather)
Trauma shears (to cut clothing in case of injury)

🛟 How to Stay Ready Like a Paramedic

✅ Organize for Speed – Sort your kit by category (wound care, airway, medications) so you can find what you need fast.
✅ Know How to Use It – A stocked first aid kit is useless if you don’t know how to use it! Watch tutorials or take a basic first aid class.
✅ Keep It Accessible – Store your kit in an easy-to-reach spot in your car, sports bag, or sideline bench.

💬 Final Thoughts

As a youth sports fan, you can’t prevent every injury—but you can be prepared. Knowing the ABCs of emergencies and packing your first aid kit with purpose will help you stay calm, take action, and handle game day injuries like a pro.

So stock up, stay ready, and keep cheering - because the game must go on! ⚾

⚠️ ⬇️ ⚠️ ⬇️ ⚠️

🚩 Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or emergency. If you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical assistance. The author and publisher are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this article.