PT stuff

Primary emergency priority

Addressing life-threatening conditions immediately before evaluating or managing specific athletic injuries.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

A written, venue-specific protocol detailing personnel roles, communication channels, equipment locations, access routes, and emergency services coordination.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

An emergency life-support procedure initiated when an individual is unresponsive and not breathing normally.

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

A portable device that evaluates cardiac rhythm and delivers an electrical shock when ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia is detected.

Chain of survival

The sequence of critical emergency actions: early recognition, system activation, immediate chest compressions, rapid defibrillation, advanced life support, and post-cardiac care.

Concussion

A traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces that disrupts normal neurological function, presenting with or without loss of consciousness.

Red-flag concussion symptoms

Critical indicators including progressively worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, unequal pupils, slurred speech, increasing confusion, or difficulty waking.

Management rule for suspected concussion

Immediate and complete removal from athletic participation with zero same-day return, followed by qualified medical assessment.

Suspected cervical spine injury protocol

Manually stabilizing the head and neck in a neutral position, avoiding any range-of-motion testing, and alerting emergency medical services.

Abrasion

A superficial wound caused by friction scraping away the outer layers of the epidermis, managed by irrigation and protective dressing.

Incision

A clean, straight-edged wound caused by a sharp object, requiring assessment for depth, structural damage, and closure.

Laceration

A wound produced by blunt trauma or tearing forces resulting in jagged, irregular tissue edges.

Puncture

A narrow, deep penetrating wound caused by a pointed object, carrying an elevated risk of deep bacterial infection.

Avulsion

A severe soft-tissue injury where a flap of skin or deeper tissue is forcefully torn away from its normal anatomical attachment.

Contusion

A closed blunt-force injury causing damage to underlying capillaries and soft tissue without disruption of the overlying skin.

Blister

A localized collection of fluid beneath the epidermal layer resulting from repetitive shear friction.

Life-threatening extremity hemorrhage control

Application of continuous firm direct pressure and prompt placement of a commercially manufactured tourniquet proximal to the wound.

Anaphylaxis

A rapid, severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction causing airway compromise, respiratory distress, cutaneous hives, and circulatory failure.

Hypoglycemia

An acute metabolic drop in blood glucose presenting with diaphoresis, tremors, tachycardia, dizziness, and altered mental state.

Active seizure safety protocol

Clearing surrounding hazards and cushioning the head while strictly avoiding physical restraint or placing items into the mouth.

Syncope

A temporary, self-limiting loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by transient global cerebral hypoperfusion.

Shock

A life-threatening state of inadequate systemic tissue perfusion characterized by hypotension, tachypnea, pale and clammy skin, and altered cognition.

Heatstroke

A severe, life-threatening exertional hyperthermic emergency characterized by core temperature elevation accompanied by profound central nervous system dysfunction.

Hypothermia

A dangerous clinical state defined by an involuntary reduction of core body temperature below normal physiological parameters.