Emergency Procedures

In Sports

Most Injuries DO NOT result in life or death emergency situations.

PROMPT CARE is ESSENTIAL!

Time is IMPORTANT No Room For UNCERTAINTY, INDECISIVENESS, ERROR!

The evaluation must be Prompt, Accurate so the Proper Treatment can be RENDERED

Primary Concern–Functioning Cardiovascular and Central Nervous Systems!

Vital Signs

Signs that indicate how the essential life systems are functioning

CNS– Pain– Brain Function– LOC– Movement

Blood Flow– Rate– Pressure

Respirations– Quality– Rate

Temperature

1.

Pulse

Functioning Heart Check at the Carotid or Radial Normal for adults is 60 to 80

bpm Children from 80 to 150 bpm Trained athletes lower - 44 to

50 bpm

Abnormal Signs Rapid / Weak

–Shock, Bleeding, Diabetic Coma, Heat Exhaustion

Rapid / Strong –Heatstroke, Fright

Slow / Strong (Bounding)–Skull fracture, Stroke, Cardiac

Problems No Pulse

–Cardiac Arrest / Death

2.

Respiration

Inhaling and Exhaling Oxygen in the Blood Watching chest rise / fall Listening to the athlete Normal adults = 12 to 20 /

minute Normal children = 20 to 28 /

minute

Abnormal Signs Shallow –Shock, Heat Exhaustion, Chest

injury Irregular/Gasping

–Cardiac problems Frothy

–Chest Injury, Rib Fracture Rapid

–Hyperventilating

3.

Temperature

Normal = 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

Measures Core - Skull, Thoracic, Abdomen

Tongue, Armpit, Rectum, Ear Rectal usually .5 degrees

higher Rectal more accurate Skin can indicate a temperature

change

Abnormal Signs Hot and Dry

–Disease, Infection, Heatstroke

Cool and Clammy–Trauma, Shock, Heat

Exhaustion Cool and Dry

– Overexposure to Cold

4.

Skin Color

Normal varies from person to person

Fair skinned athletes–Check Lips, Fingernails

Dark skinned athletes –Normal

Pink nail beds, lips, mouth, tongue

–Shock Mouth / Nose - Grayish & Tongue

Lips - Blue

Abnormal Signs

REDRubor

–Heatstroke, Diabetic Coma, High Blood Pressure, Fever, Hypertension

–Dilated capillaries

White, Pale, Ashen

Pallor–Shock, Fright, Hemorrhage, Heat Exhaustion, Insulin Shock, Heart Attack

–Vasoconstriction

BlueCyanotic

–Blocked Airway, Cardiac Arrest, Asthma

–Poor or lack of Oxygen

5.

Pupils

Sensitive to Central Nervous System Trauma

Must KNOW YOUR ATHLETES Note Presence of Contacts,

Artificial Eye Rapid constriction of pupils when

the eyes are exposed to intense light is called the PUPILLARY LIGHT REFLEX

Eye Movement tests focus and vision

Abnormal Signs

Pupil Size

Constricted

CNS Injured, Heat Exhaustion Depressant, Ingested a Poison

DilatedHeatstroke, Shock, Hemorrhage, Stimulant, Coma, Cardiac Arrest

UnequalHead Injury, Stroke

Abnormal Signs

VisionMovement

Abnormal Signs Eye movement is tested by

asking the individual to focus on a single object

Diplopia = Double vision– external eye muscles fail to work

together Watch fingers through six

cardinal fields Depth perception - Grab your

finger in front of their face

Six Cardinal Fields of Vision2

1

3

5

4

6

6.

State of Consciousn

ess

Normal –Alert, Aware, Responds Quickly to

Verbal Commands, Talks Coherently

Conditions that may alter consciousness

Head Injury, Respiratory Distress (Syncope = Fainting), Tumors, Hemorrhage, Edema, Brain Infections, Seizures, Heat Stroke, Hypoglycemia, Drug Overdose From Opiates, Barbituates, Aspirin, Tylenol, Alcohol, Poisoning, Liver or Kidney Failure, Heart Attack

Abnormal Signs Various Levels of Consciousness, Confusion

Consciousness is defined on a continuum that grades levels of behavior in response to stimuli.

LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Alert

Highest level of consciousness

Aware of surroundings

Responds to questions

Drowsy or Lethargic

Less alert Somewhat unaware of surroundings but can be aroused with a nudge or sound to respond to questions

STUPOR

Nearly unconscious Unable to stay alert for any appreciable length of time

Responds to questions only when prodded then lapses back into unconsciousness

UNCONSCIOUS

Impairment of brain function

Lacks conscious awareness

Unable to respond to superficial sensory stimuli –pinching armpit, hitting sternum

COMA Most depressed state of consciousness

Cannot be aroused with pin pricks

Eyes are closed No recognizable speech

7.

Movement

Relates to Muscle Integrity and CNS

Inability to MOVE ANY EXTREMITY may indicate a CNS Injury, Fracture–PARALYSIS

Abnormal Signs

HEMIPLEGIA –Stroke, Head Injury

–1/2 the body neurologically impaired

One Side Only

QUADRIPLEGIA –Cervical Injury

–No Movement in the upper and lower limbs

Upper Limbs Down

PARAPLEGIA–No movement in the lower extremities

Lower Limbs Down

Limited Use

Transient Paralysis–Pressure on the Spinal Cord

–Stretched / Contused Nerves

8. Abnormal

Nerve Stimulati

on

Relates to Peripheral Nerves and the CNS

Abnormal Signs Numbness / Tingling

–Nerve or Cold Damage Severe Pain, Loss of Sensation–Blocking Artery

Complete Lack of Pain (Unaware)–Shock, Hysteria, Drug Usage, Spinal Cord Injury, Nerve Damage

9.

Blood Pressu

re

Force of the Pressure against arteries

Measured with a Sphygmomanometer

Two Levels–Systolic = Heart Pumping–Diastolic = Heart Filling - Residual Pressure on the arterial walls, between beats

15 to 20 year olds–Males = 115 - 120 / 75 - 80–Females = 8 - 10 mmHG lower

IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR ATHLETES –Information from Pre-Participation Physical

Abnormal Signs

Lower BP –Hemorrhage, Shock, Heart Attack, Internal Organ Damage

Higher BP–Stress, Anxiety, Blocked Arteries

FIRST –Control Life Threatening ConditionsBlocked Airway, No Respiration's, No Circulation, Severe Bleeding, Shock

Major Considerations

SECOND –Management of Non-Life Threatening Conditions COULD DEVELOP INTO SHOCK!!Head, Spinal, Dislocations, Fractures, Skin Wounds, Illness

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

STAY COOL AND CALM

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

STAY COOL AND CALM