Medical Coverage for Figure Skating Competitions
Join us in taking a look behind the blades, recapping our experience covering the 2025 Adult National Figure Skating Championships.
Last week, Smith EMS was proud to provide onsite medical coverage for the Adult National Figure Skating Championships, hosted at the St. Louis Park Rec Center by the Twin Cities Figure Skating Association. The event ran Monday through Saturday and brought in adult athletes from across the country to compete at an elite level.
With national-level skaters taking the ice across multiple age brackets, the championship required more than just smooth ice and a sound system—it demanded a sharp, reliable medical presence to ensure safety at every turn.
Unique Medical Needs
And what they mean for event coordinators…
Figure skating blends artistry and athleticism, but it also brings a specific set of medical challenges. From blade lacerations to concussions, overuse injuries to awkward falls on the hips and back—this is a sport where injuries may not be constant, but when they happen, they require fast, informed response.
At last week’s event, our medics stayed on-site from early warm-ups to the final medal ceremony, ready to respond to any incident without disrupting the flow of competition. Oftentimes we staffed multiple medics at the event, allowing one medic to monitor each sheet of ice for rapid response.
3 Things to Look for in Medical Coverage @ Figure Skating Events
If you’re an event coordinator planning a figure skating event—or any precision-based sport—here’s what to prioritize when selecting medical coverage:
1. Medics Who Understand the Sport
Skating isn’t football. The injury patterns are different, and your medical team needs to recognize those nuances. Our medics are briefed ahead of each sport-specific event to ensure they’re looking for the right injuries and using the best treatment methods.
2. A Visible, Professional Presence
At the Rec Center, our medics weren’t hidden in a back room. They were stationed close to the action, wearing Smith EMS apparel, and ready to step in when needed—without being distracting to skaters or spectators. Additionally, we had a centralized first-aid HQ for fans, organizers, and competitors to easily reach our medical team.
3. Coverage That Matches the Schedule
The Twin Cities Figure Skating Association ran a tight, multi-day schedule with skaters rotating in and out all day long. We worked directly with the event directors to ensure that every hour of the event had clear, reliable EMS coverage—no gaps, no last-minute guesswork. When competitions ran late, we adjusted our staffing and brought in additional medics to assure the event had qualified medics that weren’t overworked.
Supporting Adult Nationals Was an Honor
Working the Adult National Figure Skating Championships was a reminder of how vital high-quality event medics are—even in sports that don’t always get the EMS spotlight. These skaters bring intensity and dedication to every performance, and it’s our job to make sure that if something goes wrong, help is just seconds away.
Whether you’re planning a regional competition or a national championship, we’re here to provide a consistent, professional, and sport-aware EMS experience—so you can focus on the bigger picture.
Signed, Sports Medic Sam
