Martial Arts School Insurance: Mitigating Damage
When it comes to running a martial arts school, insurance is essential. However, the goal is to never have to use it. "Mitigating" means reducing the harshness or severity of something, and in this case, it refers to minimizing the risks of injury and potential legal claims at your martial arts school.
Mitigating damages isn't just about protecting your business—it's about safeguarding your students' well-being.
Responsibility of the Injured Student
An important concept in mitigating damages is that injured students also have a responsibility to protect themselves from further harm.
When a student is hurt, they need to stop training and avoid pushing themselves in ways that could make their injury worse.
For instance, a student with a knee injury shouldn't keep executing kicks at full speed. Likewise, someone with a bad back should avoid high-impact throws.
If students continue training when injured, it could not only worsen their condition but also lead to legal trouble for your school.
To avoid this, instructors need to have clear policies in place that encourage students to stop training when they’re hurt.
Pushing an injured student beyond their limits can make the school and instructor liable for exacerbating the injury.
Proper Injury Response and Care
Having proper care available is essential in mitigating damages. At a recent martial arts tournament, four students were injured. Two hurt themselves while attempting to break bricks, and the other two were injured during sparring, including one who got a bloody nose.
Even though there were several instructors at the tournament, none seemed prepared to handle the injuries. One instructor even made the wrong call, telling the student with the bloody nose to tilt his head back, which is outdated and potentially dangerous advice.
Luckily, there was an instructor on the floor with CPR and First Aid certifications, along with knowledge of advanced martial arts healing techniques.
She was able to step in and provide the right care for the injured students. Without her intervention, the injuries could have been much worse.
This scenario highlights the importance of having someone with proper First Aid training on hand at all times.
A First Aid kit should always be readily available, and instructors should consider obtaining Red Cross certifications in First Aid and CPR.
Martial Arts Healing Techniques: A Word of Caution
Some instructors rely on martial arts-specific healing techniques, but these should be used with caution. If an alternative healing method worsens the injury, the school could face significant legal trouble.
In fact, injuries made worse by amateur or esoteric healing practices may not even be covered by your martial arts insurance policy.
Instructors need to ensure that any techniques they use are safe and effective. If there’s any doubt, it's always better to stick with standard First Aid practices to avoid further injury or legal liability.
Conclusion
Mitigating damages in your martial arts school means taking proactive steps to prevent injuries and ensuring students understand the importance of protecting themselves when they are hurt.
Having proper First Aid care available at all times and avoiding risky healing techniques can save you from costly claims and protect your students from further harm. Remember, the less you have to use your insurance, the better.