Sports First Aid

Injuries can restrict, interrupt and end sporting careers for both professional and recreational athletes. Appropriate management is essential to give all athletes every opportunity to return to sport. 

MANAGEMENT OF AN INJURY

• Initial treatment to limit the damage and prevent further injury. Using the RICE regime to limit damage and swelling: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. 
• An accurate diagnosis. 
• A specific treatment program to allow the injury to heal. 
• A rehabilitation program to allow the injured part to return to its function. 
• Consider returning to sport only when you have completed this process. 

HOW TO USE ICE

• Ice is very important in injury management because it helps reduce pain and stops bleeding - this is important in recovery: 
• Place the ice on the injured part as soon as possible 
• Apply for 15 - 20 minutes every 60 - 90 minutes 
• Never put ice directly onto the skin or an open wound. Use a damp towel or similar to protect the skin. Be careful when putting ice on to the elderly or diabetics their skin is very sensitive and can burn easily. 

THE BASICS OF INJURY

When considering or discussing injuries, sport medicine professionals will attempt to define: 

•  The tissue involved. 
•  The mechanism of the injury and the factors that caused the injury. 
•  The injury process. 
•  The rate of onset of the injury. 

PREVENTING INJURY 

Athletes can help prevent injury through: 

Adequate warm-up and warm-down.  Pre and post exercise stretching.  Taping and bracing joints.  Ensuring they are well and fit to play sport.  Using appropriate protective and sport specific equipment.  Building adequate recovery into their program.  Ensuring they adhere to the rules of the sport.  Treating all injuries appropriately.

SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE 

Many parents and athletes are unsure when to seek medical advice. Circumstances that need medical advice include: 

• Loss of consciousness. 
• Head injury or persistent headache, nausea, vomiting or dizziness after a head injury. 
• Breathing difficulties. 
• Neck injuries. 
• Chest injuries. 
• Severe chest pain. 
• Severe abdominal pain. 
• Fractured bone or suspected fracture. 
• Severe joint injury including dislocation. 
• Severe ligament, muscle or tendon injury 
• Eye injury. 
• Lacerations and cuts. 
• Injuries causing intense pain. 

Any other injury which has persistent symptoms and in which there is doubt about diagnosis, severity or management deserves to be reviewed. 

ILLNESS AND INFECTION

 People who undertake regular moderate aerobic exercise such as jogging, cycling or swimming, seem to suffer fewer infections and recover more quickly than those who do not exercise. However people who constantly exercise for prolonged periods or at very intense levels suffer more frequent infections, particularly at times of heavy or intense training, before, during or just after competition. These infections may interfere with the training schedules and adversely affect their ability to perform. Most infections are spread from person to person, although it is possible to be infected by animals or the environment. People spread infection in many ways, including: 

• Droplet spread - coughing, sneezing or talking sprays thousands of small droplets at least one metre from the body, to be inhaled or ingested by others. These droplets can contain micro organisms. 
• Body fluids - droplets can be lodged on objects, which can come into contact with other people and be inhaled or ingested. 

It is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis of an infection because treatment varies depending on whether an infection is viral, bacterial fungal or other. This is particularly true if there are signs that the infection is having widespread effects throughout the body. These signs include: 

• Fever.
• Elevated resting heart rate. 
• Muscle aches. 
• Joint aches. 
• Severe malaise. 
• Severe fatigue. 
• Large tender lymph glands found in the neck, armpits or groin. 

AVOIDING ILLNESS

 Athletes can take several precautions to decrease the risk of infection: 

• Adequate recovery after the training program. 
• Adequate sleep - both enough hours and good quality.
• An adequate and varied diet.
• Adequate fluids before during and after exercise.
• Avoiding extreme changes in temperature.
• Not remaining in wet clothing for long periods after exercise. 
• Good personal hygiene. 
• Avoiding crowded and confined spaces. 
• Avoiding contact with infected individuals. 
• In team situations isolating infected athletes and staff. 

If your child has a medical condition that the coaches should know about, please fill in the medical form along with the registration form. If your child is suffering from an infection, it is advisable for them to stay out of the water and rest until they are better. Training while they have an illness prolongs the recovery time and puts others at risk of catching the infection. All swimmers will be asked to have a small first aid kit in their swimming bag. This should contain: 

• Antiseptic solution 
• Cotton wool balls 
• Gauze swabs 
• Band-aids (assorted strips) 
• Gauze bandage 

This enables the coach to administer simple first aid for cuts and grazes, quickly and effectively without too much fuss on the pool deck.