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Red Crossers support Super Bowl XLI activities
Red Cross provides first aid support at NFL-related events in Florida while offering safety tips for revelers enjoying the big game at home
Written by
Katie Lawson
, Staff Writer, Redcross.org
Saturday, February 03, 2007 — For football fans all over the country, the Super Bowl is the biggest game of the season. As the excitement builds for Sunday’s championship game, American Red Cross trained workers have been on hand in Florida to support many different NFL and Super Bowl XLI related activities, offering first aid assistance and promoting safety on and off the field.
Red Cross health and safety workers attending the NFL events leading up to Super Bowl XLI were prepared and equipped to handle most medical emergencies, such as the sprained ankled suffered by Sal Tortorici at the NFL Experience at Dolphin Stadium in Miami on Jan. 27, 2007.
In addition to stationary units, Red Cross first aid-trained teams are equipped with mobile packs, allowing them to walk around with supplies that may be needed, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs). (Photo Credit: C.P. Dail/American Red Cross)
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On The Field
Super Bowl week kicked off with youth clinics held at the Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami and Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale as part of the week’s many activities. The clinics gave boys and girls from local schools a chance to meet and be coached by their favorite NFL players. Red Cross-trained staff was on the field to provide first aid support to all of the young participants.
In addition to the youth clinics, Red Cross volunteers also have been on location to serve as first responders during rehearsals for the much anticipated halftime show at the Super Saturday Blast on Biscayne and at the NFL Experience at Dolphin Stadium. The NFL Experience is professional football’s interactive theme park – offering games, displays, clinics for kids and much more.
Each Red Cross first aid responder is trained in Red Cross Emergency Response, the highest level of first aid training that the organization offers. The first aid teams on site prepared and equipped to respond to a variety of injuries and illnesses – anything from minor cuts and scrapes to severe, sudden illnesses such as cardiac arrest or respiratory emergencies.
The Red Cross also will be present outside of Dolphin Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday providing welcome stations for visitors and staff on Super Bowl Sunday where water and preparedness information will be distributed.
The Red Cross offers courses to the public in CPR/AED and first aid, where you can learn valuable, lifesaving skills to keep. To learn more about first aid training or to find a class near you, contact your local chapter.
The Home Team
For those not lucky enough to have tickets to the big game, a get together in the home is the next best thing. With all the excitement of the big game, it can be easy to overlook some simple tips that will ensure you and your loved ones cheer on your favorite team safely -- no matter where you watch the game.
- Use care in the kitchen – If you're doing more than chips and dip when you prepare your traditional Super Bowl grub, take extra precautions in the kitchen. Wear clothing with short or tight fitting sleeves when cooking, and leave that baggy football jersey for during the game. Also, be sure to supervise your younger football enthusiasts in the kitchen. Turn all pot and pan handles to the inside so they can’t be reached by little fans or bumped inadvertantly by the bigger ones.
- Prevent choking – While you may not be able to prevent your favorite team from choking on the field, you can keep your loved ones safe during the game. Appetizer trays and crudités are often set out during the game to nibble on. Small snacks such as nuts, cut veggies and cheese cubes pose a choking hazard and should be kept out of the reach of small children unless an adult is supervising them, making sure they take small bites and chew them properly.
- Chew the fat – The Super Bowl is sure to bring a plethora of big plays and intense moments but take care not to get too excited. Laughing and talking excitedly while eating or eating too fast can make it harder to chew preperly and swallow correctly. One of the main causes of choking is poorly chewed food so take your time when snacking, you have four quarters of the game to enjoy.
- Watch your alcohol consumption – Since drinking alcohol can dull the nerves that assist in swallowing – leading to choking – pay attention while enjoying your favorite beverage. Be sure to drink responsibly, and plan to have a designated driver to give you a lift home after the game.
- Don't let the dogs out – Even the friendliest, most mild-mannered pet can get nervous or excited when faced with enthusiastic football fans and nip or scratch unexpectedly at a guest. For everyone's welfare, put dogs and cats in a quiet room away from the crowd or temporarily "board" them with a friend or neighbor during fan festivities. Also, if chocolate sweets are on the party menu, be sure your canine can't sneak a piece – chocolate is hazardous to a doggy's health, warns the ASPCA.
Whether you’re a Colts fan, a Bears fan or just a football fan, make safety a priority this Super Bowl Sunday and enjoy the game!
For Red Cross safety tips covering a whole host of subjects - from cold weather safety to keeping kids safe in the kitchen to pet first and everything in-between, visit the "Health and Safety" section on RedCross.org and select "Facts and Tips."
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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