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WKO - Basic

Event Medical Cover

Amateur & Professional Events

Light Contact Rules Only at a WKO Event:

For such rules as Amateur:

  • Pointfighting 

  • Light Continuous 

  • Low Kick Light

  • Sport-Boxing

  • Light Contact Kickboxing

  • K-1 Light

Event Type: Tournament or Gala (Ringsports or Tatami Sports)

There will be a minimum of 2 qualified advanced first aid staff in attendance at the event at ring-side while competition is occurring in the ring.

Advanced first aid staff will supply and be trained in the use of all equipment necessary for treatment of an injured fighter which must include, but not limited to:

  • AED Defibrillator 

  • Supply of Oxygen and clearing of Airways

  • Entonox administration

  • Spinal Mobilisation Backboard – Stretcher

  • Neck Collar

  • Resuscitation Equipment

 

All advanced first aid staff must have up-to-date training and knowledge of how to identify and respond to respiratory and cardiac arrest symptoms, including CPR.

All advanced first aid staff must remain at the building at all times and until ALL Fighters have been checked after their bouts and confirmed OK.

For light contact only events a Doctor or Ambulance are NOT mandatory but are recommended.

  • WKO Shall request copies of insurance & occupational competence certificates as well as up to date CPD of approved WKO Advanced First Aiders

  • WKO may also issue WKO ID card for approved Advanced First Aiders 

 

LIGHT CONTACT type rules may require pre-fight medicals, this rule may vary upon the type of event and the amount/length of rounds and if a title or none title fight. Or a fighter has an underlining medical condition which has been disclosed as is required to do so.

 

As such Coaches/Parents/Guardians/Fighters of light contact rules have the sole responsibility in regards to only ENTERING an event/bout if they are FIT TO FIGHT.

 

IF YOU ARE NOT FIT TO FIGHT, DO NOT FIGHT!

Full Contact Rules at a WKO Event:

For such rules as both Amateur & Professional:

  • K-1 Rules

  • Full Contact Kickboxing

  • Thaiboxing

  • Sport-Boxing

  • Low Kick
     

Event Type: Tournament or Gala

All FULL CONTACT type rules must have pre-fight medical checks.

  • Pre-fight Medicals must be conducted on WKO Pre-Fight medical forms, for any bout with a duration of 2 minute rounds or more.

  • For bouts with rounds under 2 minutes in duration, pre-fight medical is only required if fighter has underlining medical condition.

  • Can only be completed by WKO approved medics and completed on WKO pre-fight medical questionnaire.

  • A Ringside Doctor or Paramedic/EMT can complete a Pre-fight medical unassisted.

Pre-fight Medicals can only be carried out by WKO approved medics

Should a fighter fail their Pre-Fight Medical the WKO Approved Ringside Doctor/Paramedic or EMT that deemed the fighter unfit to fight has the final say. The decision is final, must be respected and upheld BY ALL CONCERNED.

WKO Approved Ringside Chief Medic

A Fully Licenced Doctor or Paramedic with experience of accident, emergency, treatment and trauma can be the Ringside Chief Medic (RCM)

  • A recommended minimum of one RCM ringside is required at all times during bouts. Two are recommended but not mandatory. (In the case of a fighter requiring medical attention back stage which would allow the event to continue, as no bouts can continue unless a RCM is ringside.)

  • Ringside Chief Medic should position themselves where they have access to the ring steps to allow for quick and swift access to the ring, should it be required.

  • A bout under Full Contact Rules may not commence unless a Ringside Chief Medic is in attendance at ringside when the bout starts and finishes.

  • Ringside Chief Medic shall be prepared to assist if any serious emergency arises, and shall render temporary or emergency care for cuts and minor injuries sustained by any fighter.

  • Ringside Chief Medic shall not leave the arena until ALL Fighters have been checked after their bouts and confirmed OK.

  • A General Practitioner (GP) type Doctor is NOT sufficient. It is mandatory for Ringside Chief Medic to have experience around trauma/A&E.

  • Ringside Chief Medic Shall hold copies of Insurance occupation competence and up to date CPD of all approved WKO Ringside Chief Medics.

  • WKO shall also issue WKO ID card for approved Ringside Chief Medic.

 

Additional mandatory requirements for all bouts under Full Contact rules to include:

WKO Approved Paramedic & Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

In addition to the above, a minimum of one fully qualified, insured and licenced Paramedic & one fully qualified, insured and licenced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) must be in attendance.

 

They must be ringside whilst all bouts commence and must remain until all bouts are finished.

Paramedics/EMT crew will supply and be trained in the use all equipment necessary for treatment of an injured fighter which must include, but not limited to:

  • AED Defibrillator

  • Supply of Oxygen & Clear Airways

  • Entonox administration

  • Spinal mobilisation Backboard – Stretcher

  • Neck Collar

  • Resuscitation Equipment

 

They shall be prepared to work alongside and assist the Ringside Chief Medic.

All Paramedic Staff must remain at the building at all times and until ALL Fighters have been checked after their bouts and confirmed OK.

  • WKO approved paramedics and EMT should hold copies of Insurance occupation competence and up to date CPD of all approved WKO Ringside Paramedic & EMT

  • WKO shall also issue WKO ID card for approved Ringside Paramedic & EMT

(In addition, but not mandatory, event organisers may wish hire a team of Advanced First aid staff to support the Doctor, Paramedic & EMT staff at Full Contact rules events.)

 

Also a recommended requirement: (where practicable)

Front Line/High Top Ambulance

A fully insured and licenced front line/high top type Ambulance is recommended to be in attendance which must be fully stocked to support the needs of the Paramedic, EMT and Doctor.

When onsite at all times located to the closest exit of the venue for swift access when needed.

Should any fighter, spectator or official need to be transported to the nearest hospital NO BOUT MAY COMMENCE until Ringside Chief Medic is happy for bouts to commence.

All Medical Staff must remain at the building at all times and until ALL Fighters have been checked after their bouts and confirmed OK.

In addition:

 

All records for approved Advanced First Aid staff, Paramedic, EMT or Doctor shall be stored inline with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines. These will only be submitted/made available when legally requested.

 

It is the EVENT ORGANISER'S responsibility for the hire and payment of all ringside medical personnel, equipment and ambulance required.

 

WKO will only permit a show to be sanctioned through WKO if all medical personnel required specifically for the level of contact to be sustained are in attendance as stipulated above and agreed.

Event organisers must complete and return the WKO Promoter Agreement, agreeing to the terms and conditions. It is the event organiser's responsibility to ensure that they have read and fully understand the WKO RULES and TERMS & CONDITIONS. 

 

Should anything not be in attendance which is mandatory/required and has been agreed within the WKO Promoter Agreement or stipulated within WKO rules, then the event shall cease to be a WKO Sanctioned Event. 

 

Upon which all WKO staff shall leave the event and NO refunds shall be issued.

It is the event organiser's responsibility to adhere to and ensure the above rules and terms and conditions are enforced at their event. 

Summary:

Amateur Light Contact Only Rules event: -  

 

  • TWO WKO Approved, Fully Qualified and Insured Advanced First-Aider's are required

 

An Ambulance is not required although it is a recommendation to have one.

Amateur & Professional Full Contact Rules: -

The minimum recommended requirement is:

  • ONE Ringside Chief Medic

  • ONE Front line/High Top Ambulance (Fully stocked and insured) (Where Practicable) 

  • ONE  Paramedic (Qualified & Insured)

  • ONE Emergency Medical Technician (EMT/Driver) (Qualified & Insured)

  • ONE Ringside Doctor (Qualified & Insured)

 

Also Recommended but NOT mandatory:

  • One or Two Advanced First Aider (WKO Approved, Qualified & Insured)

 
Requirements of the Medical Team at a WKO event:

 

​All World Kickboxing Organisation's sanctioned events must follow these basic medical requirements.

  • All competitors must be fit to fight either by passing a prefight medical examination carried out by qualified and appropriate medical team, or self declaration fit to fight depending on the type of event competing at.

  • No competitor is clear to fight should they have suffered a KO or concussion in the last 30 days.

  • The attendance of a sufficient medical team is obligatory; a first aid team only is not sufficient.

  • Open Tournaments require:
    Ambulance (Stocked and suitably Equipped) where practicable.
    Qualified Paramedic
    Qualified Driver and Technician
    Doctor is recommended if bouts which can be won by KO are being contested
    Doctor is not required if Light Contact Only rules are being contested.

  • Gala/Shows Require:
    Ambulance (Stocked and suitably Equipped).
    Qualified Paramedic
    Qualified Driver and Technician
    Doctor
    Doctor is not required if Light Contact Only rules are being contested

  • The Ringside Chief Medic (RCM), who mandatory attends every match, is the final authority in questions of the safety of the competitors, and he or she may at any time stop or terminate a match at his or her discretion.

  • Where required every match must be supervised by an approved Ringside Chief Medic. Any and all directions and/or orders from the attending Ringside Chief Medic must be immediately complied with. The attending Ringside Chief Medic must be qualified and experienced in accident and trauma diagnosis and treatment. 

  • The attending Ringside Chief Medic must follow the rules and regulations of the appropriate national health board as well as be approved by the authorities where such rules apply.

  • No match may start or proceed before the attending Ringside Chief Medic is in place where required, and the Ringside Chief Medic may not leave his/her place prior to the decision in the last match.

  • The attending Ringside Chief Medic shall be ready to assist if a serious emergency arises and to administer first aid in the event of less serious injuries.

  • The Ringside Chief Medic has the right to interrupt or stop a contest by ringing the bell or calling “stop“ to the referee, if he/she thinks a competitor is in danger and the referee has not stopped the fight. He/she is also responsible for making the decision when a referee calls him/her to examine an injured competitor.

  • No person, even coaches, may attempt to aid a competitor during a round before the attending Ringside Chief Medic has had the opportunity to see the injured competitor. If the Ringside Chief Medic enters the ring or he/she must examine the presumed injury and decide if the fight can continue or not. This examination must take place in the ring and have duration of not more than one minute; any kind of treatment of the competitor is explicitly forbidden.

  • Should this time not be sufficient, the referee shall stop the match and declare the opponent the winner.

  • Ringside Chief Medic decisions are in any case final decisions as they are in the safety and well being of the fighters.

Duty of disclosure:

In any WKO sanctioned event in relation to being fit to fight, duty of disclosure refers to the obligation of the person or proposed insured person who has entered the event to compete, to disclose to the organiser of the event every matter that he or she "know[s], or could reasonably be expected to know, is relevant to the organisers' decision whether to accept the risk of the bout" or to influence the terms offered. To fully understand that medicals are required to compete if there are any underlining conditions in respect of competing in 'Light Contact' rules. And that they are a mandatory requirement for any bout which can be won by the result of stoppage of knock out (K.O)

Any competitor failing to disclose any underlining medical conditions or that they are fit to fight when are not, or refusing to have a pre-fight medical where required will be disqualified and removed from that event. And may be banned from all and any WKO sanctioned event.

WKO - Approved

WKO - Approved

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