Treatment of Minor Injuries
Immediate Treatment Of Minor Injuries.
Where the injury is obviously a minor one (e.g. a graze or small cut) they should deal with in a calm manner. They need to have the injury assessed as to the extent of the injury or illness quickly, then a decision made as to whether it can be dealt with it by the coach or if assistance should be summoned. In cases of more severe injury or illness, follow the documented emergency procedures and contact qualified assistance as soon as possible. If necessary, protect the injured party from further injury and ensure the safety of others. Back to topBleeding
Severe bleeding can result in poor circulation and may lead to more serious consequences. It therefore needs to be controlled.REMEMBER if you don't ask for help none will come. If the situation cannot be contained then call for help immediately to avoid wasting time.
Using diisposable gloves if available, remove clothing to expose the wound. Press down on top of the wound using your hand, together with a dressing or pad if one is available. If blood comes through the first dressing and flow is not slowed applied a second dressing. If this fails to stem the flow then remove the first two dressings and apply a third in case the other two were not positioned correctly. If this fails then apply indirect pressure by squeezing the artery above the wound.
If the injured part can be raised above the level of the heart, this will slow down the blood flow to the wound.
If you cannot apply direct pressure over the wound, grasp or squeeze the edges of the wound together. Do not remove anything sticking out of the wound - it may cause more extensive bleeding.
Lay the casualty down if possible and raise the legs to improve blood flow to the vital organs.
Protect the casualty from the cold - cover with a blanket or coat. Do not give the casualty anything to eat or drink in case an anaesthetic is needed later. Back to top
Concussion Management
Concussion does not mean that you have to be unconscious to have suffered from it. Any direct or indirect impact that affects the brain can cause a grade of concussion and this needs to be fully assessed by a either a Neurologist, Neurosurgeon or Sports Medicine PhysicianMANAGEMENT OF THE CONCUSSED PLAYER
Unusual or uncharacteristic behaviour is very common after concussion. If a head injury is accompanied by an uncooperative or aggressive mood change, such as a player refusing to be assisted or refusing to leave the field, then the player must be assumed to have suffered significant brain damage in the injury. In this case, all personnel present ? referees, coaches, captain and fellow team members present ? must firmly refuse to allow that player to continue participating in the game. Such mood changes, associated with the loss of insight, highlight even more the fact that significant brain injury has occurred which required urgent medical review. A person of responsibility must always accompany the player until an appropriate medical opinion is obtained.
MANAGEMENT OF THE UNCONSCIOUS PLAYER
If the player is obviously unconscious, the first priority is to evaluate and protect the airway and the cervical spine. The player must be watched closely and carefully monitored until consciousness returns. Should breathing stop, appropriate resuscitation is necessary, following the 'airways, breathing, circulation' guidelines and allowing the player to be placed on their side in the recovery position. Always remember the possibility of an associated spinal (neck) injury, and if the player must be moved, do so carefully and appropriately. DO NOT MOVE THE PLAYER FROM THE FIELD WHILE THEY ARE UNCONSCIOUS. This should be left to appropriate medical or ambulance personnel.
When the player has regained consciousness and their breathing is regular and unobstructed, the player should be carried from the field and allowed to recover fully. Such incidents require immediate review by a doctor. The player should then see appropriate medical experts for their opinion as to the best future management.
If a player has been concussed, the return of that player should be as follows:
1. First Concussion - Grade 1 or 2 - No Loss of Consciousness
Three week stand-down, unless a written clearance to return to the sport from either a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician is produced.
2. First Concussion - Grade 3 - Loss of Consciousness
Rest of season stand-down or three months, whichever is shorter, unless a written clearance to return to the sport from a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician is produced.
3. Second Concussion - Grade 1
Three week stand-down, unless a written clearance to return to the sport from either a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician is produced.
4. Second Concussion - Grade 2
Rest of season stand-down or three months, whichever is shorter, unless a written clearance to return to the sport from a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician is produced.
5. Further Concussion
After a third Grade 1 concussion, rest of season stand-down or three months, whichever is shorter. They may only return to Rugby League if they have been asymptomatic for at least one month, and produce a written clearance to return from a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician.
After a third Grade 2 concussion, or a second Grade 3 concussions, rest of season stand-down, and may only return to Rugby League in the following season if they have been asymptomatic for at least one month, and produce a written clearance to return from either a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician.
If, because of repeated concussions, a player has been stood down for the remainder of a season, and yet suffers a further concussion of any grade on the return to contact sports, they should consider giving up all contact sports for life, and should be guided in this decision by a neurologist, neurosurgeon or sports medicine physician. Back to top
Basic Resuscitation
To live we need a regular supply of oxygen to all parts of our body. In particular the brain will become severely damaged if it is deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes.To keep the brain supplied with oxygen three things are essential:
A - an open and clear AIRWAY through which air, containing oxygen, can pass to the lungs
B - BREATHING, a process which delivers air into the lungs where oxygen can enter the blood stream
C - a CIRCULATION that requires a pumping heart together with sufficient blood in the blood vessels to carry oxygen from the lungs round the body.
Resuscitation is the term used for the emergency treatment needed to overcome the failure of one or all of these functions. It may consist simply of opening the airway and turning an unconscious casulaty onto his side or it may mean breathing into the casualty's lungs or pressing on the chest to make blodd circulate round the body.
Remember - seconds count
DANGER - Approach with care, making sure that there is no continuing danger either to yourself or the country. Be aware of hazards from electricity, gas, traffic, masonry etc
RESPONSE - Assess whether or not the casualty is conscious. Carefully shake their shoulders and ask loudly something like "Can you hear me?" or "Are you alright?". An unconscious casualty will not respond. Try squeezing the ear lobe to see if there is any repose to pain.
SHOUT FOR HELP - Use a phone. If someone else is nearby ask them to go for help - but to come back! You might need their assistance. REMEMBER if you don't ask for help none will come.
AIRWAY
In an unconscious casualty the tongue may fall back to block the airway. By lifting the head back and lifting the chin forward the tongue is drawn away from the back of the throat. Remove any visible obstruction from their mouth eg a gum-sheld.
If a neck injury is suspected, try to avoid having to tilt the head. The first priority, however, is to obtain a clear airway and some degree of head tilt may be unavoidable.
Keeping the airway open check whether the casualty is breathing normally by looking for chest movement, listening at the mouth for breath sounds and feeling for breath on your cheek. Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds before deciding that breathing is absent.
At this point you really do need to get assistance. Then you must give two rescue breaths.
CIRCULATION
If the casualty is not breathing there is a real possibility they will not have a circulation. Trying to find a pulse is often difficult for professionals.
If there are no signs of a circulation then you should give 15 chest compressions to every two breaths. This will help maintain the casualty in the state you have found them and buy them time. It will not "bring the casualty back to life", this is whyy you need to call for assistance. The ambulance will be able to use their defribulator.
This method is refered to as DRS ABC. Back to top