Emergency Sports Assessment and Procedures

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering emergency sports assessment protocols, physiological indicators, triage scores, and injury management based on the lecture notes.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

A pre-established written protocol detailing personnel roles, emergency vehicle access routes, equipment locations, and communication systems to manage sports emergencies.

Primary Survey

A rapid initial assessment taking 30 seconds to 2 minutes, with a maximum on-scene time of 10 minutes, performed with little or no patient movement to detect life-threatening conditions.

Clinical Death

The state occurring between 0 and 4 minutes after cessation of breathing and heartbeat, during which resuscitation can prevent permanent brain damage.

Biological Death

The state occurring 6 to 10 minutes after cessation of respiration and circulation, characterized by irreversible and likely brain damage.

Hyperpnea

An abnormal increase in the depth and rate of respiratory movements, associated with lesions located in the pons.

Apnea

A temporary cessation of breathing, indicating potential neurological injury or lesions localized to the medulla.

Ataxic Breathing (Biot Respiration)

An irregular breathing pattern characterized by random alternating deep and shallow breaths, indicating neurological lesions in the midbrain or pons.

Hyperventilation

Prolonged, rapid hyperpnea that leads to decreased carbon dioxide levels in the blood, indicating possible lesions in the cerebrum, cerebellum, midbrain, or pons.

Cheyne-Stokes Respirations

A rhythmic breathing pattern where periods of hyperpnea regularly alternate with periods of apnea, showing gradual acceleration and deceleration in depth; indicates lesions in the cerebrum, cerebellum, midbrain, or pons.

Cluster Breathing

A pattern in which breaths follow each other in a disorderly sequence separated by irregular pauses, indicating neurological lesions in the pons or medulla.

Asphyxia

Abnormal or arrested breathing resulting from lack of oxygen or airway obstruction, most commonly caused in an unconscious athlete by the tongue falling backward.

Transtracheal Ventilation

The preferred emergency ventilation method for patients with breathing difficulties resulting from severe brain, cervical spine, or maxillofacial injuries, performed using an 18-gauge or larger needle.

Carotid Pulse Threshold

The presence of a palpable carotid pulse, indicating an estimated systolic blood pressure of at least $60\,\text{mm\,Hg}$.

Femoral Pulse Threshold

The presence of a palpable femoral pulse, indicating an estimated systolic blood pressure of at least $70\,\text{mm\,Hg}$.

Radial Pulse Threshold

The presence of a palpable radial pulse, indicating an estimated systolic blood pressure of at least $80\,\text{mm\,Hg}$.

Capillary Refill Test

A clinical check of peripheral perfusion considered delayed if pink color does not return to the nail bed or hypothenar eminence within 2 seconds following pressure release.

Halo Sign

An orange ring formed around blood on a gauze pad placed over the ear or nose, indicating the presence of cerebrospinal fluid and a probable skull fracture.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)

An inherited heart condition where cardiac muscle is replaced by fibrous scar and adipose tissue, predisposing an athlete to activity-related syncope and sudden cardiac arrest.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

A congenital cardiovascular condition marked by abnormal thickening of the left ventricular myocardium; recognized as the number one cause of cardiovascular death in athletes.

Commotio Cordis

Sudden cardiac arrest triggered by a blunt, non-penetrating blow to the chest wall or precordial region during an electrically vulnerable phase of cardiac repolarization.

Trauma to the Short Ciliary Nerves

The primary cause of a unilateral dilated, fixed pupil in an alert, fully conscious patient who sustained direct blunt trauma near the eye, distinguishing it from third cranial nerve compression.

Fencing Response

A transient tonic posturing observed at the moment of head impact, characterized by extension of one limb and flexion of the contralateral limb regardless of body position.

Decerebrate Rigidity

An abnormal posturing pattern indicative of severe brainstem damage, presenting with rigid extension across all four extremities.

Decorticate Rigidity

An abnormal posturing pattern indicative of upper brain impairment, characterized by rigid extension of the lower limbs and flexion of the upper limbs.

Neural Watch

A standardized serial monitoring procedure repeated every 5 to 15 minutes initially (and every 15 to 30 minutes once stabilized) to track consciousness, pupillary responses, and vital signs for signs of intracranial deterioration.

Heat Stroke

A life-threatening condition in which the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms fail and perspiration ceases; body core temperatures rising above $42^\circ\text{C}$ cause irreversible brain damage and death without rapid cooling.

Manual In-Line Traction

A stabilizing axial pull of approximately $4.5\,\text{kg}$ ($10\,\text{lbs}$) applied to the cervical spine by the examiner during any patient movement to prevent secondary neurological injury.

Pediatric Backboard Modification

An elevation adjustment under the torso required when immobilizing children aged 7 years or younger to compensate for their proportionally larger heads and prevent cervical flexion.

CRAMS Scale

A field triage assessment evaluating Circulation, Respiration, Abdomen, Motor, and Speech; a cumulative score of 6 or less mandates rapid referral to a specialized trauma center.

Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5)

A sideline screening instrument designed for non-medical personnel to quickly identify red flags, observable signs, symptoms, and memory deficits of suspected concussions.