Sports Safety Basics

1. Sports Safety Basics

2. Who should have a pre-participation physical and how often? • All children participating in youth, competitive league or school-based sports should have a PPE annually.

3. Who is capable and preferred to conduct the PPE? Who gets a copy? • Any physician (MD or DO) can perform a PPE, but someone who knows your child and family is preferred. PPEs should be conducted annually by your pediatrician or family physician. Depending on your child’s intensity in sports, a physician trained in sports medicine may be preferred. • If your school or team has an athletic trainer (AT), ideally the AT should have the PPE on file. Your AT will inform the coach of any pertinent findings that may affect participation. • Some schools require the athletic director or school nurse to have a copy.

4. Why is an emergency action plan (EAP) important? Who should have a copy of this plan? • The EAP is an established protocol that all organizations should have in place. • The development of the EAP takes care and time to ensure that all necessary contingencies have been included. • EAPs should include detailed instructions for all persons responding to an emergency: athletic trainers, coaches and emergency personnel. • Include a map of the facilities: roads, entrances, buildings, emergency equipment, etc.

5. What should be checked for safety conditions? • Field/Court conditions • Player and team equipment • Lighting • Stability of goals/netting • Access to water • Access to shelter • Access for emergency vehicles • Weather • AED • ...and much more!

6. How can you tell that someone is dehydrated in cold and heat? • Dry mouth • Thirst • Irritability • Headache • Seeming bored • Dizziness • Cramps • Excessive fatigue • Child not playing as well as normal

7. What player safety gear is required for thesport you are coaching and how importantis proper fitting? • Safety gear varies from sport to sport– ask your athletic trainer or coach • Proper fitting is important to ensure maximum protection from injury • If gear is too big, your child may trip or the padding may slip • If gear is too small, it may not protect the body part or it may constrict breathing and trap heat

8. What should you immediately do if you suspect a player has one of the following health issues and there is no athletic trainer or on-site physician? • Concussion: play it safe and sit the child out until he/she can be diagnosed by a physician, athletic trainer or sports-medicine trained professional. Do not allow the child to return to play without evaluation and clearance. • Cardiac arrest: call 911 and use the AED as instructed until help arrives. • Heat stroke: Call 911 and immediately immerse the player in a cooling pool/tank. Move the child to a shady/air-conditioned area, remove gear and apply cold, wet towels.

9. What is considered a major medical emergency and how should you react? • Concussion • Cardiac event • Potential spine injury • Heat stroke or illness • Uncontrollable bleeding • Compound fractures • Other fractures • In these events, call 911 and wait for help to arrive

10. What should you do if a player receives anon-emergency injury during play? • Call the parents and explain what happened. • Instruct the parent to take the child to an urgent care clinic, primary care physician or sports medicine physician.

11. What should you do if you suspect a playerhas an overuse injury? • The child must see his/her pediatrician, family physician or a physician trained in sports medicine. The physician should diagnose the injury and establish a treatment plan.

12. Thank you!