Safety precautions for throw-ins.

How many polo players know first aid? How many carry any kind of first aid kit? Who knows how to treat a concussion or stop someone going in to shock? Or even how to treat a nose bleed?

I've done multipe first aid courses, but have learnt over the years i have taken them that the courses can equip you with the knowledge, but you'll never be "ready". First aid training is primarily to deal with situations as best you can, until a trained professional arrives. As you point out, I don't carry a first aid kit with me, but i do trust myself that when something does arise i could deal with it in the best possible way until someone with the correct knowledge and equipment turns up.

Personally I would totally recommend everyone involved in any contact sport take a first aid course, but you must bear in mind its purpose is not meant to be a solution, rather to know how to minimise the damage when it happens.

Don't be a dick. Don't be a pussy.

Should add: Don't be a dumbass.

What's the point you're making? all I can see there is a litany of maybes and what-ifs.

Any activity has a degree of risk that you assess and take precautions for - you can deconstruct any sport and point out many potential hazards

the truth is that you're more likely to spanner yourself dicking around playing footie with your mates in the park than playing bike polo

there will always be the occasional 'freak' accident but that's life

Polo is cool and pretty self-regulating and you will get the odd bump and bruise but no more than any other sport so don't be put off by that^^^^^^

Your basically on my wavelength.

There is potential danger all over the place. But I dont think its worth fretting about it all, like brake levers! Which are way down on the potential deathometer.

What the fuck are you talking about? Moron.

Because if a some fingers happen to stray into a disc (like in a common crash) and the wheel is still turning, those fingers are coming off.

Like I said, Im not saying all this stuff is way to dangerous to have on a polo bike. Just that there is a lot of risks all over the place, so worrying about brake levers, just because some dude stepped on one which somehow managed to pierce his foot is a bit silly.

And for the record, I do play polo. All be it poorly, I still play.

You should go work for the Health and Safety Executive!

yeah, once you're past bar plugs (especially as there's really no reason *not *to have them besides laziness) it's all really debatable. i'm impressed by the relative lack of serious injuries caused by polo considering the potential. it speaks volumes about players' common sense and sense of fair play. it's so rare to come across people who play dangerously, yet games are still really competetive.

polo rules.

Can we get that list somewhere for noobs then?

safety do's and don'ts for polo

• Plug yor bars
  
• Plug the end of your mallet
  
• Use a bashguard if possible
  
• Use a single chainring if possible
  
  
  
  

any more?

DFP do you realise that if we all think like that, we will never leave our houses? maybe a tiles from the roof fall and kill you...

I work with children, and everytime I go to a park I'm fascinated how the hell all us survive without the padded flooring, without the rubberized?? swing and castles, everything is made for keep the kid "safe"

I grow up in Spain the the 80s without all thsi shit, iron swing with rusty end, fucking concrete floor and the like, and I'm here, I fucking made and like me hundreds, so... yes there is a risk in everything but the chaces of some of this shit happen is tiny, and if it happens, like the brake lever, you go to the hospital and HTFU

we are all adult in here and can asses the lever of risk we are getting into, we havent been living in bubles to dont realise that if I put hand in a disk brake it will cut me, but how many time has that happen, no just in polo, in MTBing in general?? now many MTB are in the world eveyday riding...

yeah, do go out tonight maybe a frozen shit form and airplane fell on top of you and kill you

Rik, did you read my two posts just above yours?

• Plug yor bars
  
• Plug the end of your mallet
  
• Use a bashguard if possible
  
• Use a single chainring if possible
  
• No iron stickouts to attach your head to shaft
  
• No broken heads, with sharp points
  
• Helmet
  

Zzzz... Polo Radar.

Don't stare at the ball, try and predict the actions of others... use your peripheral vision.

Learn to crash well/predictably.

Helmets are not something you have to have for throwins.

definitely not, i really dislike wearing a helmet, but for competitive games, I often wear one.

when polo crashes do happen where do people generally land? How commonare head injuries?
(I've noticed that people who crash on road often land on shoulders knees and hands rather than heads )

when polo crashes do happen where do people generally land? How commonare head injuries?
(I've noticed that people who crash on road often land on shoulders knees and hands rather than heads )

For our Birmingham throw-in's the falls always seem to be on top of each other. When people are crowded or lose balance when hit / tangled by someone else.

But interestingly, at our mini tournament last weekend the falls were single riders over-zealously blasting across the court and turning too quickly.

A couple of the quick guys from Cambridge/Manchester where taking similar spills too, but I only have pics of our local Dan sensei.

How many polo players know first aid? How many carry any kind of first aid kit? Who knows how to treat a concussion or stop someone going in to shock? Or even how to treat a nose bleed?

.

When I crash I fall on my feet hold hands out to the side and occasionally do a little inner 'whoa'. You should all try it. Especially the inner whoa. Go on do a little one to yourself now.

Go on do a little one to yourself now.

Proof.

For our Birmingham throw-in's the falls always seem to be on top of each other. When people are crowded or lose balance when hit / tangled by someone else.

birmingham is plagued by a couple of players with shockingly weak single-pivot roadie brakes from the 70s - the pile-ups almost always involve those players.

those photos of me are in no way representitive of my mastery of the game.

Poof.

^

DFP do you realise that if we all think like that, we will never leave our houses? maybe a tiles from the roof fall and kill you...

I work with children, and everytime I go to a park I'm fascinated how the hell all us survive without the padded flooring, without the rubberized?? swing and castles, everything is made for keep the kid "safe"

I grow up in Spain the the 80s without all thsi shit, iron swing with rusty end, fucking concrete floor and the like, and I'm here, I fucking made and like me hundreds, so... yes there is a risk in everything but the chaces of some of this shit happen is tiny, and if it happens, like the brake lever, you go to the hospital and HTFU

we are all adult in here and can asses the lever of risk we are getting into, we havent been living in bubles to dont realise that if I put hand in a disk brake it will cut me, but how many time has that happen, no just in polo, in MTBing in general?? now many MTB are in the world eveyday riding...

yeah, do go out tonight maybe a frozen shit form and airplane fell on top of you and kill you

I fucking love Rik!

Reppd.

would you agree that wheelcovers are as reasonably trouble-free and cheap as bar-ends, and although they can be inconvenient if you have to remove them and replace them every polo session or if its windy (and you like to roll cigarettes while you ride ;) they should be added to this safety list?

• Plug yor bars
  
• Plug the end of your mallet
  
• Use a bashguard if possible
  
• Use a single chainring if possible
  
• No iron stickouts to attach your head to shaft
  
• No broken heads, with sharp points
  
• Helmet
  

no