Also have to be able to justify and explain your procedure/actions Management of soft-tissue injuries: RICER Rest: Dont move

the injured area, just rest. Ice: Apply ice rapped in a towel (not directly onto skin) Compression: Compress area using elastic bandage (helps reduce swelling + provides support) Elevation: Elevate the injured area about the heart to reduce blood flow and inflammation. Referral: Refer to medical professional ASAP Immediate treatment of skin injuries Danger- reduce the dangers of infection- wear gloves, clean hands. Also, stop play. Bleeding- control bleeding using REST, PRESSURE, ELEVATION. Sit patient down, making them comfortable. Elevation of the wound above the heart. This will reduce the amount of bleeding. Asses- the severity of the wound Clean- the wound using clean water, saline solution, diluted antiseptic. Anything embedded in the wound should be cleaned out. Do not remove any objects deeply embedded. Padding should be placed around these until the patient can be seen by a doctor. Apply- an antiseptic to the wound Dress- the wound with a sterile pad and bandage. Put ice on the wound to decrease blood flow. Refer- to medical attention if necessary

ASSESSMENT OF INJURIES (detailed injury assessment)

If an athlete is unconscious, use DRSABCD. If athlete is conscious, use TOTAPS, which will give you information about the extent of the injury, and will indicate whether the person should be allowed to continue playing or given to professional help. T-Talk- Talk and ask the player to gather information about the cause, nature and site of the injury: How did the injury happen? Where does it hurt? Did you hear any snaps or cracks? Is pain sharp or dull? O-Observe- Visually examine the injury. Look for deformity, swelling and redness. If the injury is a limb, compare it to the other. If there are any obvious signs of deformity, there is likely to be a fracture or serious ligament/tendon damage, and medical help is needed. If there is no deformity, move to the next stage. T-Touch- Feel the site of the injury without moving it. Compare both limbs by touch. Note any differences in bone shape and skin temperature. If touching the injury causes the player intense pain, the injury could be more serious. If it only causes slight pain, move to next stage. If there is evidence of a fracture if dislocation, the procedure stops here. SEEK HELP! A-Active Movement- Ask the athlete to move the injured part. Observe the degree of pain and the extent of movement that is achieved. Compare with other limb. As the person moves, feel the injured site for any clicking or grating. If injured site cannot be moved or only has a minimal range of movement, use RICER. If casualty can move without intense discomfort, proceed to next stage. P-Passive Movement- If this stage is reached, the injury might not be serious. The first aider moves the athletes injured part and determines how much pain-free movement is possible. If this cannot be done, use RICER. If range of movement is normal, ask to stand to perform skills test.

S- Skills Test- If the player can stand, have the person put pressure on the injured site by performing movements similar to what is required in their game. E.g. hop, run, jump, push. If this can be done, athlete can return to play. Management of hard-tissue injuries: Immediate management is as follows: - Immobilise and support the injured site with a splint or sling - Check for impaired circulation and other problems - Arrange for transport to hospital and professional medical assessment - Implement the RICER procedure if it does not cause pain Immobilisation: Management of hard-tissue injuries aims to minimise movement to the injured area. This is achieved by immobilising the joints above and below the injury site. If the injury site is a long bone (e.g. leg/thigh) a splint can be used. If the fracture isnt that severe a sling/bandage can be used. A splint is applied because: - There is a fracture (serious) - It provides support - Help minimise movement further damage For dislocations immobilisation is the immediate aim. Get professional help, X-ray and medical professional can put it back into place. Do NOT attempt to put back in place yourself (further damage) Injury Shin pain Knee pain Heel pain Shoulder pain Elbow pain Signs and Symptoms Painful to move, swelling Painful, swelling, discolouration Painful to move, jump, run Painful to move, reduced movement Pain around elbow area Management Decrease activity - RICER Decrease activity RICER Decrease activity RICER Decrease activity RICER Decrease activity - RICER

Talk Questions: - How did the injury occur? - Where does it hurt? - Did you hear any snaps/cracks? - Do you have any pins and needles? (e.g. spinal injury cant move or feel) - Is the pain sharp or dull? - Did you continue to play for any time? S1: Hockey player has a heavy collision with other player in intense pain on grown holding lower leg. S2: Cross-country event, athlete cant continue and is in obvious pain with a leg injury. S3: Game of Rugby Union, a player remains lying on the ground. The player is conscious and complains of pain in the spinal region. S4: You arrive at the scene of a cycling accident. The cyclist is attempting to remount the bike and continue the race, but has severely limited movement in one arm. S5: A 100m hurdler (jumping action) pulls up in the middle of the race and grabs their knee.

Step Talk: What questions would you ask the injured person?

S1 Did you hear a snap/crack?

S2 Is the pain sharp or dull and how much longer did you run for? Check for swelling, heat, compare to other leg, redness, compare to other players back?

Observe: What are some of the injuries you would be looking for?

Possible fracture, swelling, heat, compare to other lower leg, redness

S3 Did you hear a snap/crack? Is the pain sharp or dull? Do you have any pins or needles? Look for possible fractures, check for deformity (back)

S4 Ask them what happened?

S5 Is the pain sharp or dull?

Look for bleeding or possible fractures, compare arms

Look for swelling of muscles, redness and heat, compare legs

Touch: Would you touch the injury? If so, how?

Active movement: What things would you look for as the casualty moves the injury?

Only touch injury if there is no obvious deformity. Gently touch without moving injury. If there is intense pain (possible fracture) perform ricer if no pain from it and get help or SPLINT IT If pain is minimal, continue to ask them to move the injured area (lower leg), watch to see if they are in pain, as they move feel the injured site. If intense pain, use RICER and get help.

Dont move, get immediate help/stretcher

DO NOT PROCEED!!!

Only touch injury if there is no obvious deformity. Gently touch without moving injury. If there is intense pain (possible fracture) perform ricer if no pain from it and get help or SPLINT IT Can they move it without pain? Unlikely as you will be watching them and it already says they are in obvious pain. STOP, unless there is minimal pain and he can somehow ride a bike without favouring his injured arm?

Only touch injury if there is no obvious deformity. Gently touch without moving injury. If there is intense pain (possible fracture) perform ricer if no pain from it and get help or SPLINT IT If pain is minimal, continue to ask them to move the injured area (lower leg), watch to see if they are in pain, as they move feel the injured site. If intense pain, use RICER and get help

Passive movement: Would you move the injured part? If so, how?

Skills test: What skills would you require the athlete to perform?

If minimal pain, move the injury gentle through a range of motion, this is to determine how much pain free movement is possible. If intense pain use RICER and get help. If they passed the PM then ask to stand and perform actions similar to the sport. E.g. run back and forth, and change direction

Perform skills test and ask them to run back and forth, check to see if athlete is favouring one side of the body/one leg. E.g. run

If minimal pain, move the injury gentle through a range of motion, this is to determine how much pain free movement is possible. If intense pain use RICER and get help. Perform skills test and ask them to run back and forth, check to see if athlete is favouring one side of the body/one leg. E.g. run