Sports Medicine

1. Sports Medicine

2. Emergency Situations • Obstructed airway • Cardiopulmonary emergencies • Unconscious athlete • Hemorrhage • Fractures • Shock • Hyperthermia • Hypothermia

3. Obstructed Airway • An individual’s airway can become partially or totally blocked by: • A solid foreign object (mouth guard, bridgework, gum, tobacco, mud…etc.) • Fluid (blood, saliva, vomit) • Swelling in the throat • Back of tongue • An obstructed airway prevents adequate oxygen from being exchanged in the lungs and can lead to cyanosis and death.

4. Partial Airway Obstruction • When a person has a partial airway obstruction there is still some air exchange in the lungs. • If the individual is able to cough forcefully, do not interfere. • An ineffective cough or a high pitched noise during breathing indicates a more severe obstruction and should be treated as a total airway obstruction.

5. Total Airway Obstruction • In a total airway obstruction, no air is passing through the vocal cords, so the individual is unable to speak, breathe, or cough. • ABCs • Assess unresponsiveness • Open the Airway • Establish Breathing • Establish Circulation

6. Cardiopulmonary Emergencies • Cardiac arrest may result from strenuous physical activity, direct trauma, electrical shock, alcohol or substance abuse, suffocation, drowning, or heart abnormalities. • Signs and symptoms include chest and/or arm pain, pain in the neck, jaw, teeth, upper back, and abdomen, shortness of breath, and nausea. • Follow CPR protocol if breathing stops.

7. Unconscious Athlete • Head injuries are the leading cause of of loss of consciousness in sports activity. • Unconsciousness identifies an individual who lacks sensory stimuli. • HOPS • History of Injury • Observation and inspection • Palpation • Special Tests

8. Hemorrhage • Severe hemorrhage can result in decreased blood volume and blood pressure, either of which can become fatal. • External hemorrhage • Apply pressure directly to the wound (preferably with a sterile gauze pad). • Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart. • Cleanse, debride, and disinfect wound. • Cover wound with an occlusive dressing. • Internal hemorrhage • Activate EMS immediately. • Monitor vital signs. • Anticipate vomiting

9. Fractures • A fracture is a break in the continuity of a bone that is classified as open or closed depending upon whether the skin surface is penetrated. • Signs of fracture include swelling, bruising, deformity, point tenderness, crepitus, or disability. • Remove any clothing or jewelry near the injury site. • Check the distal pulse beyond extremity fractures. • Immobilize the joint above and below the fracture. • Apply minimal in-line traction. • Splint firmly. • Transport.

10. Shock • Shock can occur to some degree in any injury involving pain, bleeding, internal trauma, fracture, or spinal injury. • Signs of shock include a rapid, weak pulse and rapid, shallow breathing. • Activate EMS immediately • Elevate feet and legs if no head or neck injury is suspected. • Maintain body heat, remove any wet clothing. • Keep individual quiet and still. • Avoid rough and/or excessive handling.

11. Hyperthermia • Hyperthermia occurs when internal heat production is no longer in balance with external heat loss. • The hypothalamus initiates heating or cooling mechanism to maintain a relatively constant body core temperature between 97°-100° F. • Hyperthermia may be preceded or accompanied by heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and/or heat stroke. • Immediately move the person to a cool place. • Remove all equipment and unnecessary clothing. • Cool the body. • Keep the individual supine. • Elevate feet. • Cool with fluids, preferably an electrolyte solution.

12. Preventing heat emergencies • Acclimatization • Clothing • Fluid hydration • Weight charts • Temperature/humidity • Practice schedules

13. Hypothermia • Hypothermia occurs when the body is unable to maintain a constant core temperature. • Take individual indoors and protect them from any further refreezing. • Provide warm fluids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. • Carefully, rapidly rewarm the entire body. • Monitor vital signs, EMS may be necessary.

14. Preventing cold emergencies • Check weather conditions • Clothing • Stay dry • Breathe through the nose • Stay hydrated • Keep your back to the wind • Avoid contact with cold surfaces

15. Moving an injured participant • The safest method to move an injured participant is with a stretcher or spine board. • Unless a spinal injury has been totally ruled out, always assume one is present. • Ideally, five individuals will move the participant with the “captain” (the most medically trained individual) stabilizing the head and giving commands.

16. Moving an injured participant • Place all extremities in axial alignment. • If the participant is lying prone, have four individuals log roll the participant into a supine position while the “captain” stabilizes the head and neck in the position they were found. • Place the spine board as close to the participant as possible. • Each person is responsible for one segment; shoulders, hips, knees, feet. The “captain” remains with the head and neck. • On command, move the individual on to the board in a single motion. • Four people should lift the spine board and transport the participant. The “captain” remains with the head and neck.