Safety Must-Haves to Look for Before Entering a Pole or Aerial Competition

Athlete safety should always be the number one priority at any competition, especially when athletes are taking on significant physical risk. Pole and aerial competitions ask you to invert, climb, drop, and catch yourself several feet off the ground, often at high speed and in front of a crowd. That kind of dynamic athleticism deserves the same level of safety planning that any high-risk sport requires.

Before you sign up for a competition, or sign your athlete up, it’s worth doing a little homework. Here are five non-negotiable safety must-haves that athletes, coaches, and parents should confirm a competition has in place before entering.

1. An AED On-Site

AED stands for automated external defibrillator. It’s a portable device that can detect and correct certain life-threatening heart rhythms in a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, including young, fit athletes, and the chances of survival drop significantly with every minute that passes without defibrillation.

Before competing, ask the event organizer whether there’s an AED on-site, where it’s located, and whether staff are trained to use it. It should be somewhere visible and easily accessible near the competition floor, not locked away in an office or storage closet.

2. Medical Staff On-Site (EMT)

Pole and aerial routines carry real risk of falls, dislocations, and other acute injuries, which means a trained medical professional should be present and ready to respond immediately. An EMT (emergency medical technician) is the baseline standard, and larger or higher-level competitions may bring in a certified athletic trainer or a physician as well.

Ask whether medical staff will be on-site for the full duration of the event, not just available on call. Someone trained in things like spinal stabilization, fracture care, and wound management can assess and treat an injury within seconds rather than minutes, which can make a real difference in outcomes for anything serious.

3. An Emergency Action Plan

An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written procedure for handling emergencies, built specifically around the layout and logistics of the event’s location. A strong EAP outlines:

• Which personnel are responsible for what during an injury or emergency
• Communication procedures, including who calls for help and how
• The exact location of medical equipment, including the AED and first aid supplies
• Emergency escape routes for the venue

Don’t be afraid to ask the organizer if an EAP exists and whether staff and volunteers have actually reviewed and rehearsed it. A plan that only exists on paper isn’t much use in the middle of a real emergency.

4. Documented Incident Reporting

Ask whether the competition has a process for documenting injuries, near-misses, and equipment issues, rather than just handling them quietly in the moment. A simple incident report should capture what happened, who was involved, how it was treated, and any follow-up needed.

Documented incident reporting protects you as an athlete by creating a paper trail if further medical care is needed later, and it’s a good sign that an event takes safety seriously long after the day is over, not just while the competition is happening.

5. A Competitor Safety Meeting

Before competition begins, athletes should be gathered for a brief safety meeting covering where to find the AED, medical staff, and exits, and exactly what to do if an injury or emergency happens during their routine or someone else’s. This is also the moment to confirm who’s in charge on-site, how to flag a concern before it becomes a bigger problem, and what the process looks like if an athlete needs to stop a routine mid-performance.

If a competition doesn’t hold a safety meeting, ask where this information is posted or how it’s communicated. Safety resources only work if athletes actually know they exist and how to use them.

The Bottom Line

An AED, on-site medical staff, a rehearsed emergency action plan, documented incident reporting, and a competitor safety meeting are the baseline every pole or aerial competition should have, not optional extras. Before you or your athlete steps on stage, it’s worth confirming all five are in place. As pole and aerial competitions continue to grow and professionalize, asking these questions isn’t being difficult. It’s advocating for the safety you and your fellow competitors deserve.