Conce rns have been raised over the availability of trained medical help at Rhodes University’s Friday night internal league rugby. Students, spectators and players have shown anger and concern at what they perceive to be the lack of attention injured players have received over the past few weeks.
Conce rns have been raised over the availability of trained medical help at Rhodes University’s Friday night internal league rugby. Students, spectators and players have shown anger and concern at what they perceive to be the lack of attention injured players have received over the past few weeks.
They believe that not enough emphasis has been placed on the possibility of a serious injury occurring. There was no dedicated ambulance for the first two matches of the inter-res competition but an ambulance has been present at the last two games.
“We are lucky nothing really bad has happened and are glad an ambulance has been arranged finally,” said the manager of the Heathens team, Matthew Stoucken.
On the first night of the internal league rugby at the Great Field on 23 July, Heathens player Ben Ryan dislocated his elbow and shoulder. Stoucken said: “There was no medical help at the game.A bystander in the stands had to help him and when no one came, a member in charge had to take him to the hospital.”
He added that although none of the other injuries in that game were serious, many players were in need of ice packs and other medical assistance which were not available.
The following Friday, a player injured his leg and waited for nearly 20 minutes for an ambulance. Rhodes had supplied first aid that evening following complaints from the team managers and players the previous week but, according to Stroucken, “The player lay on the side of the field waiting for an ambulance to attend to him, as the first aid staff did not appear to be able to assist.”
The head of internal league rugby, Zelda Steinmetz said that they had booked the Rhodes first aid team last term for the Friday night games but they did not arrive.
She said this was unacceptable and that it is really difficult to get immediate help. Many of the players believe that the first aid helpers, even though they are trained and qualified, are not experienced enough to tend to serious injuries.
Tony Alexander, star lock for the Dream Team said: “I believe it’s necessary to always have an ambulance there for quick response to serious injuries and that Rhodes medics are not adequately qualified to deal with such injuries.”
Steinmetz said: “The problem is that the municipal ambulances are not always on call because they have to attend to all the other emergencies around town.”
She said that after the situation at the first game she had to go to the first aid offices every week to make sure they were informed of the next match.
However, even when first aid helpers are present she said that the players want more specialised assistance. “I haven’t got a positive response from the players,” she said.
Tyron Theessen, chairman of the Rhodes Rugby Club said that the players have not experienced any serious injuries.
He said that there is supervision and medical assistance throughout the game and that the Rhodes First Aidmembers are fully qualified and up to the provincial standard.
