- These Guidelines for all age groups are issued
by British Fencing to ensure that Fencing remains one of the safest
sports. Please study them carefully and always follow them.
- Almost all serious fencing injuries are caused
by a broken blade, so please pay particular attention to sections 2(g)
and 3.
- Fencers should apply these Guidelines to anyone
with whom they are fencing, as well. as to themselves If your opponent's
blade is soft, for example, you are the one that may suffer if it breaks.
- Coaches have a special responsibility for safety
during training and should especially study section 4. They should also
give very careful consideration to the circumstances in which they are
prepared to instruct pupils who are not wearing protective clothing.
- Referees are the guardians of safety in competitions.
They have the authority to prevent the use of unsafe equipment and to
penalise dangerous play; and it is in the best interests of the fencers
and the sport that they should always do so.
- These Guidelines have been drawn up in accordance
with contemporary Rules for Competitions. In the event of these rules
changing and laying down more rigorous safety requirements, the requirements
of the rules will naturally override the Guidelines.
- Accidents and injuries are rare in fencing.
If everyone were to follow these guidelines all the time, they would
be even rarer.
-
- James Chambers
- President
- 8th Edition - 1997
-
2) Fencers' Accident Prevention Responsibility:
Fencers are responsible for ensuring that their personal equipment is
in a safe condition, and in particular that it conforms to the following
requirements:-
- a) Masks: Fencers are strongly recommended
to wear masks with 100mm bibs and should ensure when buying a new mask
that the bib is of this length. No attempt should be made to repair
the steel mesh of a mask; if the mask is weak or damaged, it should
be thrown away. Masks should be checked for the following defects:
- i) Weakness due to rusting.
- ii) Softness, holes or excessive deformation
from the original shape.
- iii) The bib not properly sewn on.
- iv) Gaps at the side or under the chin.
- v) Poor means of retention on the head, making
the mask liable to come off. To reduce the risk, British Fencing strongly
recommends that every fencer wears a mask backstrap. A backstrap is
mandatory for British Fencing competitions. Referees can apply to those
without backstraps the same penalty as for appearing on the piste with
equipment which does not confirm with the Rules for Competitions. A
back-strap consists of elastic at least 2 inches wide, secured to the
mask side mesh at each end, passing UNDER the mask spring piece at the
back, and tensioned to keep the mask firmly in place.
- b) Jackets & Breeches:
- i) Jackets should be of the correct length and
fastened on the opposite side to the sword arm.
- ii) There should be a minimum of 4 inches (10cms)
overlap between breeches and jacket when fencer is on guard.
- iii) On no account should clothing be used which
is damaged, show visible tears, or has been corroded or weakened by
excessive use.
- iv) With electric weapons, it is particularly
important that light-weight jackets should not be used and that in epee
a jacket made of material of over 12ozs per square yard is used.
- v) Breeches should be closed below the knee.
- vi) In non electric fencing only, proper breeches
may be replaced by strong full-length trousers or tracksuit trousers,
provided all pockets or zips are sewn up or taped.
- vii) The strength of Kevlar protection clothing
may be reduced if the Wash & Care instructions are not followed.
Copies are available from Leon Paul Equipment, Units 1&2 Cedar Way,
Camley St., London NW1 0JQ
- c) Plastrons: These should be of a double
thickness material with no seams under the armpit, and they should not
be attached to the jacket in any way. A simple under-jacket or T-shirt
is not sufficient. Plastrons should always be worn when fencing.
- d) Socks: Socks should be long enough
and remain OVER the knee during fencing.
- e) Shoes: Shoes should have a sole which
grips the floor, and should be replaced if the soles are worn smooth.
- f) Gloves: The gauntlet should be long
enough and firm enough to stretch and remain over the sleeve of the
jacket whilst fencing. Gloves should not have any opening other than
is necessary to admit the body wire, they should be inspected regularly
and any holes and tears should be repaired.
- g) Weapons: Weapons should be regularly
checked to ensure they are in a safe usable condition.
- Blades: Blades should be observed and tested
to see whether any portion is "soft", that is to say whether any portion
of the blade bends more than the rest. "Softness" indicates a dangerous
weakness which may lead to a break
- A 'soft' portion is indicated when a blade bends
into an irregular or uneven curve. The portion which bends more than
the rest is 'soft'. A new blade should be tested by placing the point
on the floor and depressing the top about six inches and checking that
it bends evenly. Blades can be checked similarly during the non-fencing
breaks in a bout.
- i) If blades develop sharp edges, these should
be rounded with an emery cloth; they should NEVER be filed or ground.
- ii) Sabre blade points should not have become
sharp by continual scraping on the piste.
- iii) The point of a non-electric foil must be
covered with waxed thread, plastic, or with some other non-metallic
material.
- Guards: Continuous use of a weapon can leave
very sharp edges round the guard circumference, and these can produce
quite severe cuts on the opponent's knee, leg or hand. Such guards should
not be used.
- h) Women's Breast Protectors: Women fencers
should consider carefully the type of breast protectors they wear. Well-developed
fencers in particular should decide whether conventional protectors
give them adequate all round protection or whether they would feel safer
and more comfortable wearing protectors which provide greater coverage.
These are available from a number of manufacturers.
FIE Requirements: The FIE has
laid down equipment standards which fencers must observe in order
to compete in the Olympic Games, in World Championships and in all
'A' grade events. These standards apply to masks, jackets, breeches
and blades.
- The British Fencing Board has decided that,
except as may be laid down in these Guidelines, these standards will
not apply to fencers in UK competitions (apart from 'A'; grade events).
It will review this decision from time to time and will endeavour to
give not less than one full Season's notice of any change (with the
possible exception of blades).
3. Broken Blades: Penetration
by a broken blade is almost the only cause of serious fencing injuries.
One of the most important accident prevention measures is, therefore,
to reduce the possibility of a blade breaking during a bout. There
are three ways of doing this:
- a) Never use a blade which shows signs of 'softness'
(see 2(g) above). Consider using a blade made out of a special steel,
such as maraging steel, which on average will last longer than a blade
of conventional steel.
- b) Never fence against anyone using a blade
which shows signs of 'softness'.
4. Accident Prevention During Lessons:
During lessons the instructor and pupil should wear full protective
clothing (except for class instruction - see below). However, the
instructor may consider that there are particular circumstances in
which it is inappropriate for full protective clothing to be worn,
but instructors must be aware of the dangers, in different circumstances,
of not wearing any particular items of regulation clothing themselves,
or of permitting their pupils not to do so, and should draw pupils'
attention to the accident or injury which could result because full
protective clothing is not worn.
- Nevertheless, the following items should always
be worn, even if the instructor is giving a lesson to an experienced
pupil, because any relaxation will probably be copied by less experienced
fencers.
- The instructor should wear:- A mask;
a fencing or teaching jacket; a teaching plastron, a glove; and some
form of leg covering.
- The pupil should wear:- A mask and a
glove.
- Instructors giving individual or class lessons
must decide what clothing they wish their pupils to wear in order that
they are not put at risk. However, if fencers are not wearing full protective
clothing, the instructor must draw their attention to the fact that
an accident or injury could result.
- In law, the instructor will be considered to
be negligent if a class member is injured during a class through a cause
which is foreseeable. The instructor must ensure that:
- a) The venue is adequate for the activity.
- b) The venue has a fully equipped first aid
kit.
- c) The class does not exceed recommended numbers
for the available space and the available number of instructors.
- d) All fencers are aware of emergency evacuation
procedures.
- e) All fencers are aware of an established code
of safety practice.
- f) All fencers have been advised of the correct
use of the equipment and the potential dangers of mishandling it.
- g) All fencers have been told to stop fencing
immediately if a blade breaks or a point or button falls off.
- h) All fencers carry their weapons by the pommel
with the points towards the floor when they are not fencing or practising.
- i) All fencers have been taught not to put on
their masks using both hands while holding a weapon.
-
- If there are any fencers in the class who have
health problems (e.g asthma, diabetes) which may cause difficulties
during training, the instructor is fully aware of the best way of dealing
with this.
- NEVER give the instruction to begin fencing
without checking that all fencers are wearing their masks correctly.
- NEVER under any circumstances leave a class
unattended.
5. Accident Prevention in Clubs and at
Competitions: Club officers, instructors and all members of
competition organising committees have responsibility for ensuring
that the accident prevention precautions in respect of premises are
observed. They should also ensure as far as practicable that individual
fencers observe their own accident prevention responsibilities. They
also have responsibility for ensuring that the rules to prevent accidents
during lessons are observed.
- Non-fencers should not use the fencing area
as a thoroughfare, or if this is unavoidable, must take particular care
when crossing an area on which fencing is taking place.
- When laying out pistes, due consideration should
be given: to the age group, the weapon and the standard of fencing;
to enabling the president to be at a safe distance from the fencing
on the pistes between which he is standing; and to the possibility of
non-fencers being too close to the pistes.
- The following should be minimum distances:
- i) between the edges of adjacent pistes on the
side where unattended boxes are placed: not less than 1 metre.
- ii) between the edges of adjacent pistes on
the side used for refereeing: 2.5 metres. If the distance is less, the
referee should wear some form of protection, such as a mask or goggles.
- iii) between any person (e.g. scores, box operators
and standing, sitting or moving, spectators) and the edge of the piste:
1.25 metres.
- iv) total distance between the rear line of
two pistes placed end-on: not less than 2 metres.
- v) at least 2 metres beyond each back line should
remain unobstructed by a wall, chairs, cables, fencing equipment or
by anything else which might trip up a fencer passing quickly over the
back line either backwards or forwards or which might injure a fencer
who collides with it.
- Competition organisers should ask referees as
far as practicable to ensure that these Guidelines are observed, in
particular those concerning personal equipment, including a check that
proper plastrons are worn, and the recommendation concerning spectators
and officials. Checks on competitors' personal equipment, especially
blades and masks (using a mask tester), are strongly recommended.
6. Premises: The following accident
prevention requirements relate to the premises used by fencers and
to the area where fencing take place.
- a) The fencing area should be such that fencers
performing all normal but nevertheless fast fencing movements are not
in danger of slipping.
- b) A length of at least 2 metres beyond each
back line should remain unobstructed by a wall, chairs, cables, fencing
equipment, or by anything else which might trip up a fencer passing
quickly over the back line wither backwards or forwards, or which might
injure a fencer who collides with it.
- c) Spectators should not be allowed so near
the sides of the piste that there is a risk of collision with a fencer
who fleches off the piste nor any risk that they may be struck by a
weapon, due for instance to a wide parry. Furthermore, spectators should
not be so near the sides of the piste that they force the referee, judge,
scorer, or person working the box so close to the piste that they risk
these dangers.
- d) Cables on the ground should be arranged so
that they will not trip up fencers or spectators and should be taped
down.
7. Mains Operated Equipment:
- a) Mains operated equipment should not be used
unless it is correctly earthed using a plug with an earth pin.
- b) Mains cables should not be extended by joining
to another cable. The cable from the mains supply plug to the equipment
should be a single continuous length.
- c) Only heavy duty mains cable should be used.
- d) Mains cables should not be run over or under
the metallic piste.
- e) It is dangerous to open the case or to attempt
any repair on mains operated equipment if anyone is connected to the
equipment.
- f) A fuse should not be replaced before a qualified
electrician has found and rectified the fault which caused the fuse
to blow.
- g) Electrical equipment should be used only
if it is made by a reputable manufacturer and it should not be modified
except by the manufacturer.
8. Legal Responsibility: A fencer
is generally deemed at Law to accept the ordinary risks involved in
fencing. Excluding from this general statement are fencers who come
into certain limited categories, notably those Under 18.
- Examples of ordinary risks which a fencer is
deemed to accept are accidents arising from breakage of blades, or from
normal bodily contact with an opponent, arising in the normal course
of a bout. However, a fencer may possibly be legally liable if he injures
an opponent by an action which is illegal under the Rules of fencing
or is recklessly violent, or if he or she knowingly uses an unsafe blade.
- h) All fencers are strongly recommended to obtain
insurance cover by joining the British Fencing Association.
- This cover is provided automatically among the
benefits of membership. Fencers should avoid any risk of legal liability
by fencing within the Rules and ensuring that their equipment is safe.
- The British Fencing Rules for Competitions make
it clear that each fencer is responsible for the safety of his own equipment
and that the organisers and referees are not responsible. Organisers
of competitions will normally wish to include a clause on entry forms,
pool sheets and brochures advertising competitions seeking to exclude
liability. A suggested form of words is as follows:
- "Each fencer is personally responsible for making
sure that his or her clothing and equipment conform to the FIE and British
Fencing rules and are in good condition. Neither British Fencing nor
the organisers of the competition, nor any official or referee involved
in the competition is responsible for these matters, or for any accident,
loss or damage to persons or property however caused".
- The degree of liability which may fall on organisers
and referees is unclear. In any event, they should take care to ensure
so far as is reasonably possible that the Rules governing safety of
equipment and conduct are properly enforced.
- When fencers under the age of 18 are entering
a competition, the entry form should contain provision for it to be
signed not only by the competitor but also by a parent or guardian consenting
to the fencer taking part in the competition.
- The BFA has an indemnity policy against legal
liability. The insurers have agreed that all BFA competitions fall within
this policy.
9. Accident Report: British Fencing
has a responsibility to keep safety standards under constant review
and to improve them when ever possible. One of the most important
ways of doing this is by reviewing all accidents which are serious
enough to cause a fencer to abandon a competition or to take no further
part in a club session or a fencing course; or which prevent an official
from continuing his duties or compel a spectator to leave the premises.
A person with first hand knowledge of such a fencing accident is therefore
asked to complete a British Fencing Accident Report and send it to
the BFA Secretary as soon after the accident as possible
10. First Aid: Club and competition
premises should have a first aid box available. There is usually considerable
difficulty in positioning the box where it can be quickly found when
needed but at the same time is not accessible to fencers who wish
to use adhesive tape and other items to repair weapons and clothing.
Club Chairman and Competition Organisers should find the best solution
for their particular circumstances. Regularly, before and after each
competition, the box should be checked and restocked as necessary.
- When a doctor or someone with first-aid knowledge
is present among club members or competitors, there should be some means
of finding them quickly if needed. Clubs and competition organisers
should know the telephone number of the nearest doctor and hospital,
and this information should be clearly displayed in all fencing premises,
together with the position of the nearest telephone.
- The minimum contents of a first-aid box should
be:- One pair of scissors; one box adhesive plaster (eg Elastoplast);
two triangular bandages; two 2" crepe bandages; one 3" crepe bandage;
safety pins; one small bottle disinfectant (eg Dettol); one packet sterile
gauze swabs; approx 2ozs cotton wool; one roll 1" adhesive tape (eg
Micropore or Elastoplast); one packet adhesive strip (eg Steristrips);
one small bottle Tinct.Benz.Co. (Friars Balsam); Polythene bag to hold
ice cubes.
- Cold treatment of sprains and pulled muscles
is most easily and cheaply obtained by using ice cubes. Alternatives
are a PR spray which is quick and easy to use on the piste, or commercially
available and chemically activated packs which become extremely cold
when crumpled and are small enough to be bandaged in place enabling
the fencer to continue on the piste.
- First-aid treatment needs care and thought.
Use common sense in how you apply these guidelines so as to avoid making
matters worse by incorrect intervention.
- Organisers of competitions should consider inviting
a member of the St. John Ambulance or Red Cross to be present.
- The following are suitable procedures:-
- Cuts: If cuts are dirty, they must first
be cleaned with disinfectant and cotton wool, working from the cut outwards.
Cover small cuts with adhesive plaster. For larger cuts, clean and dry
the edges, and then bring the edges together with adhesive strips (Steristrip).
These, however, do not stick well to hot sweaty skin. It is best to
dry the skin on either side of the wound as thoroughly as possible then,
using a gauze swab, apply Tinct.Benz.Co. to the dried skin and then
immediately apply the Steristrip. The wound can then be covered with
gauze, held in place by Micropore or crepe bandage, or by elastoplast
or something similar.
- Serious Bleeding: The way to stop serious
bleeding is by direct pressure on the wound. Do NOT apply tourniquets.
Do NOT try to find pressure points unless you know exactly what you
are doing.
- If the casualty has lost a lot of blood and
is becoming shocked (pale, sweaty and anxious), lay the casualty on
the back and raise both legs in the air to an angle of about 45 degrees.
- This manoeuvre should help improve the casualty's
condition and gain valuable time in a crises.
- Blisters: Do NOT break the blister. Protect
it with cotton wool held in place by a crepe bandage.
- Serious Injury: In the event of serious
injury, such as a broken limb or penetration by a broken blade, the
best procedures are as follows:-
- Broken Limb/Dislocation: Move the casualty
as little as possible. Provide comfortable support to the injury. Give
nothing to eat or drink.
- Broken Blade Penetration of the Body:
In practice the broken blade will have been removed because in all known
cases to date, the broken blade has been instinctively withdrawn immediately
after the accident by the fencer holding the broken weapon. If the wound
is clearly superficial it may be treated like any cut. If there is doubt
about the depth of the wound, or its seriousness, the casualty should
be taken directly to hospital. If waiting for an ambulance is likely
to lead to dangerous delay, consideration should be given to taking
the casualty to hospital by any suitable means.
- a) If the chest is injured, support the casualty
in a sitting position, if possible leaning towards the injured side.
- b) If the abdomen is injured, place the casualty
on the back with the knees drawn up, in as comfortable a position as
possible.