Sports Injury/First Aid - Chapter 2

Sport First Aid Education

• obtain certifications

  • first aid

  • CPR

  • AED

• seek additional education

  • concussions

  • heat illness, hydration, environmental factors

  • cardiac emergencies

• stay current

  • keep first aid and CPR certification current

  • attend seminars and clinics

  • take online courses and read books

• acknowledge limits

  • do not attempt the duties of other health care providers

  • provide only the care you are qualified to provide to avoid harm or lawsuit

Keeping Health Records (consent form)

• Consent form

  • informs the athlete and the parent or guardian of the inherent risks of sport

  • requests permission from parent/guardian to treat the athlete for an emergency illness or injury

  • age matters!

    • minor = parent/guardian signs

    • 18+ = athlete signs

Keeping Health Records (health history form)

• Health History Form

  • includes athlete’s history of health conditions that could affect their participation in sports

  • may include health concerns and related medication information

Keeping Health Records (emergency information card)

• Emergency Information Card

  • names and numbers of emergency contacts

  • medical insurance information

  • pre-existing medical conditions → influence treatment of athlete

  • needs to be accessible, but in a secure location

consent

parent/guardian giving permission

assent

• child/individual under 18 signing their name on the form acknowledging the risk

• not as strong as consent

Checking Facilities and Equipment

• YOU are responsible for checking for safety and hazards that could lead to injury

  • example: football sleds in the way during practice

  • example: loose basketballs underneath the hoop

  • example: litter, slippery surfaces

• check equipment

  • when should it be checked?

    • before season, regularly throughout season.

  • examples of equipment to check?

Stocking the First Aid Kit

• first aid kit and ice cooler / emergency ice at every practice and competition

• if you don’t know how to use it, don’t put it in the kit

• include only the items necessary for administering basic sport first aid

• medications?

  • depends on the population you are working with and your role

  • minors = omit all medicines, including over-the-counter (such as aspirin, pain medications, or decongestants) and prescription drugs

    • exception = prescribed medication with written permission from parent/guardian to administer (Epipen, insulin, asthma inhaler)

  • 18+ = AT may carry basic OTC and prescription meds

  • consult sate and local laws

• omit items that may cause an allergic reaction

Preparing Athletes to Perform

Establish the following routine to ensure athletes are ready to practice and compete:

1) preseason physical exam

2) preseason screening

3) preseason conditioning

4) proper warm-up and cool-down

5) use of protective equipment, bracing, and taping

6) correct skill instruction

7) sound nutritional guidance

8) ban on rough or boisterous play

Preseason Physical Exam

• This exam is the first step to preparing the athlete for the sport season

• during the exam, a qualified health care provider will do the following:

  • provide a general health examination

  • perform circulatory, respiratory, neurological, orthopedic, vision, and hearing tests

  • complete blood and urine analyses

  • note preexisting or potential health conditions

• physical exams should be turned in by all athletes prior to the start of the season

  • how long is a physical good for?

  • 13 months, but really depends on the insurance company

• Familiarize yourself with athletes’ conditions

• keep in secure file fo rreference (HIPAA)

Preseason Screening

• The coach identifies athletes who are:

  • most qualified for specific positions

  • may need development to play position

  • needing additional development and conditioning

• Who conducts this screening?

  • an athletic trainer and/or a certified strength and conditioning coach

• This screening provides insight on the athletes fitness level and potential problems that would affect performance by evaluating the following:

  • strength

  • flexibility

  • endurace

  • CV endurance

  • body composition

  • coordination

Preseason Conditioning

• conditioning should start at least 6 weeks before the season

• exercises should focus on:

  • muscle strength

  • CV endurance

  • flexibility

  • power

  • speed needed for the sport

Preseason Training and Conditioning Routine

1) warm-up

2) light exercises

3) Sport-specific drills

4) cool-down

Protective Equipment and Bracing

• surprise inspections!

  • ensures adequate maintenance and fit

  • minimizes risk of broken equipment

• don’t forget about mouthguards and safety glasses/goggles!

• bracing vs taping vs nothing

Correct Skill Instruction

• unsafe techniques → injury

• teaching safe and proper skills and techniques → injury prevention

• Ban on horseplay

Sound Nutritional Guidance (eating on the road)

• Eating on the Road:

  • planning and organization

    • high carbs

    • moderate protein

    • low fat

  • restaurants may honor special requests

  • budget for and encourage healthy alternatives

  • digestion = 2-5 hours

  • adequate diet fuels performance

Sound Nutritional Guidance (eating for performance)

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

• emergency medical situations may arise at any time → important to be properly prepared with an EAP

• An EAP ensures the following:

  • preparation for response when an athlete needs help

  • athletes receive the best possible care

• All parties involved = part of the planning process

• An EAP should be readily available to all the members of the athletic health care team at each athletic venue

• share with visiting teams!

Prerequisites for formulating an EAP specific to sports:

1) proper education and training of individuals

2) development of appropriate first aid procedures for events

3) maintenance of appropriate medical emergency equipment and supplies

4) utilization of appropriate medical emergency personnel

Developing the medical EAP must take many components into account:

1) what personnel will be involved

2) what rules will be followed

3) what equipment will be available

4) where the arena for the contest of practice will be located

5) when the plan will be rehearsed

6) how the plan will be evaluated

7) what the education processes will be for the stakeholders of the EAP

An EAP provides detailed instructions for the following:

1) who will act

2) what actions should be taken

3) how and where they will be taken

Separate, venue-specific EAPs - Detailed instructions and information including:

1) address of the venue

2) description of the location of emergency equipment

3) communication methods

4) list of emergency telephone numbers

5) list of emergency hand signals

6) detailed instructions for staff and emergency care personnel

Three Steps to Developing an EAP

1) Assess

• planning how you will evaluate the scene and an injured athlete

  • what to do first when you arrive at an injured athlete’s side

  • how to evaluate the safety at the scene for the injured athlete

  • steps for evaluating responsive and unresponsive athletes

2) Alert

• planning how you will activate the EMS

  • how to send for medical assistance while evaluating and providing first aide care to an athlete

  • EMS usually only present for regional XC meets and football games

3) Attend

• planning how first aid will be provided

  • if medical personnel are present, assist them as needed

  • if medical personnel are not present, provide first aide care to the extent of your qualifications

Handling Minor Injuries

1) assess the injury

2) attend to the injury (fist aid)

3) remove the athlete from participation if the athlete is in a great deal of pain or experiences loss of function (e.g., can’t walk, run jump, or throw)

4) contact the athlete’s parent or guardian (if a minor) to discuss the injury

5) suggest that the athlete see a health care provider to rule out a serious injury

6) complete an injury report form while the incident is still fresh in your mind

Handling Serious Injuries

1) assess the safety of the scene and the athlete’s level of responsiveness

2) send a contact person to alert emergency medical personnel

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