FIRST AID

You’re the first point of contact… What do you do?

First AidFirst Aid is known as the emergency treatment administered to an injured

orsick person before professional medical or surgical care is available.

‘First aid is the initial management and treatment(of a player) for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of serious injury/illness in (football) environments until professional medical (ambulance/paramedics) help is obtained’.

(The F.A.)

The F.A. define it as......

Always remember, you must be qualified

to deliver First Aid or you may make the

injury/condition worse.

First Aid Kit Contents

•Bandages (Various Sizes)•Roller Gauze & Gauze Pads•Sterile Dressings & Tape•Antiseptic Swabs, & Spray•Finger Splint, Tweezers, & Scissors

• Burn Gel & Spray• Antibiotic Ointment• Eye/Skin

Buffer/Flushing Solution

• Ice Pack• Nitrile Gloves• CPR Mask

ResuscitationIf the player has no pulse and/or is not breathingthe First Aider may have to perform resuscitation.

This is keeping the injured players heart beating and lungs breathing for them. Watch the follow video on YouTube to learn how to perform Resuscitation… You will be having a go!

Remember only a qualified First Aider should attempt to resuscitate someone unless there is no-one else around to help you!

BleedingSevere Bleeding is a life-threatening condition, therefore the bleeding must be controlled quickly. There are 4 procedures to follow;

Apply Pressure Elevate Dress the Wound Monitor

4. Monitor If the wound is severe you may need to monitor the player as they may go into shock due to blood loss. You may also want to check that the dressing isn’t too tight and restricting circulation.

2. Apply a DressingApplying a sterile non-fluffy dressing covers the wound protecting it and preventing the spread of infection.

3. ElevationElevate the bleeding limb or area above player’s heart (if practicable). This will reduce the amount of blood flow to the wound.

1. Apply Direct PressureThis is to try and stop the flow of blood and encourage a clot to form.

ShockShock is a life-threatening condition. It is caused by severe blood loss resulting in loss of oxygen to body’s vital organs. It requires immediate hospital treatment or it could be fatal.

Signs & Symptoms of Shock

• pale/cold/clammy skin - sweating• blueness of lips (cyanosis) - weakness, dizziness• thirst - rapid shallow breathing• unconsciousness.

Treatment for Shock

•Dial 999 or take the player to hospital. •Treat cause of shock i.e. stem the bleeding causing the excessive blood loss.•Help player lie down•Raise/support player’s legs above level of heart (if injury permits).•Do not raise head.•Loosen player’s clothing if constrictive at neck/chest/waist.•Constantly reassure / do not leave player unattended. •Monitor breathing/level of consciousness whilst awaiting ambulance.

FractureWhat is a Fracture? A fracture is a break, crack, flake or chip in the bone.

‘A fracture is a loss of continuity in the bones surface’. (The F.A.)

Treatment of a Fracture•Do not move the player.•Immobilise the injured limb. •Call 108 for an ambulance.•Keep player warm.

• Monitor

Signs &Symptoms of a Fracture•The player or others may have heard a ‘crack’. •There will be localised pain •Sometimes there can be a visible deformity, for example a bend in the limb or bone protruding from the skin. •Localised swelling &) bruising. •The player may be unwilling or unable to move or put weight on the limb. •Sometimes there can be numbness or tingling (pins & needles).

Prevention of Infection

After breaking the skin there is a risk of infection for both the injured player and the First Aider. This can be prevented by following the guidelines below:

•hand cleansing (as/when appropriate)•cover own wounds (particularly on hands) •wear disposable gloves•carry ‘yellow’ plastic bags (disposal of ‘contaminated’ items) •personal immunisation, e.g. tetanus immunisation.

Qualified Assistance & Accident Report Forms

A First Aider should always know their capabilities and never attempt to treat beyond those. After initial treatment they should summon qualified assistance, for example, call 108, advise them to see their GP or refer the player to the Physio.

A First Aider should also complete an Accident Report Form, which most clubs should have. This is a legal document that logs the injury, the treatment provided and who was involved. This covers the First Aider from repercussions e.g. A case of negligence.

Take a look in the resources section at the example Accident Report Form Template.

COMMON TREATMENTSFOR SPORTS INJURIES

S.A.L.T.A.P.S.Stop – when the player goes downAsk – the player what happened and how they feel? This will give you an indication of the severity of the injury.Look – for obvious visual signs of an injury e.g. bleeding, swelling or deformityTouch – to see if you can locate the source of pain (if the player allows it) which may indicate what the injury is and how severe it may beActive – is the player able to actively move the injured area themselves with full range of movement?Passive – are you able to passively move the area with full range of movement?Strength – does the player maintain original strength?

After following these steps you can make an informed decision on whether the layer should come off or carry on playing.

P.R.I.C.E.D. Protect – your first objective is to protect the injury from further damage

Rest – by resting the injury (for example not weight bearing) you prevent further damage and allow the injury to begin the healing process

Ice – applying ice reduces inflammation and decreases discomfort and pain

Compression – applying compression through a bandage helps reduce swelling

Elevation – elevating the injured area allows gravity to drain some swelling

Diagnosis by Professional – always refer the player to a professional such as a Doctor or Physio for an accurate medical diagnosis

After administering First Aid, you may go on to follow the PRICED acronym.

Hot & Cold TherapyAfter an injury ice can be very beneficial. It can:

• Reduce bleeding within tissues• Prevent or reduce swelling• Reduce muscle spasm • Reduce pain by numbing the area and reducing swelling

(which causes pain through pressure)

Ice or cold packs should be applied for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 hours. Be sure to protect the skin if you apply ice/cold packs to prevent an ice burn.

Heat is only beneficial when the injury is 48-72 hours old, otherwise it can worsen the bleeding and inflammation. Heat can be applied in the form of:•Deep heat creams•Heat pads•Hot water bottles•Heat lampsHeat works by dilating the blood vessels allowing more blood to the area which has a soothing effect. It eases pain and muscle spasms. Heat can be used at the players preference but, again, care should be taken not to burn the skin.

Sprays & Creams

Limb Supports & Splints

Sprays and creams work on the same principle as Hot & Cold Therapy. However, they are more mobile and so are used more “on-the-go”. They work more superficially and are thought to be less effective.

Splints are used to immobilise a limb or joint, where range of movement needs to be restricted (maybe after an operation or after a torn ligament for example)

Limb supports include devices like Fracture packs, leg or arms braces and foot orthotics.

Fracture packs are used in emergencies to immobilise joints. Limb braces may help with introduces movement to a joint gradually, after an operation and foot orthotics are used to improve the biomechanics of the foot.

Poisoning• Identify the ingested substance

– Container or Clues: Stains, Odors, etc. • Induce Vomiting?

– Do NOT induce if unconscious or the person ingested corrosives or caustics

• If Vomiting - Roll onto their side for drainage (Recovery period)

Cellular Phone “ICE”

• Add “ICE” (In Case of an Emergency) phone number to your cell phone address book– Provides contact person for you in the event of a

medical emergency

ICE – Ramesh (Spouse)9811223344

THANK YOU