The Athletic Health Care Team

PART I

Athletic Health Care Team Members• Athlete• Parents• Coaches• EMT or Paramedic• Doctors• Athletic Trainer• Physical Therapist• Dentist or Oral Surgeon• Optometrist• Strength and Conditioning Coach• Equipment Manager

Coach’s Role on AHCT

• Rules of legal system

• Rules of your school administration

• Expectations of parents

• Interact with AHCT members

• Have fun, improve skills, exercise, teamwork

Coach’s Role on AHCT9 Legal Definitions

1. Plan activity 2. Provide Proper Instruction3. Warn of inherent Risks4. Provide safe physical environment5. Provide adequate and proper equipment6. Match your athletes appropriately7. Evaluate athletes for injury or incapacity and refer to ATC

or appropriate health care provider: Do not go beyond scope of care!

8. Supervise activity9. Provide appropriate emergency assistance

You & Parental Expectations in the AHCT

• Will look to you for guidance

• Communication

• Role of parents

• Understand other AHCT members can help

Athletes of the AHCT

• Buy into the health care system

• Preseason physicals

• Fitness screenings

• Conditioning

• Injury assessment & care

• Report injuries

• Adhere to restrictions

Parents of the AHCT

• Ensure their child participates in:– preseason physical & fitness screening– Conditioning– Don’t be a “Helicopter Parent”

• Watch for injuries / illness & report them• Support decisions by AHCT*YOU keep parents informed of possible

injuries / illnesses to child

Emergency Medical Personnel and Paramedics of AHCT

• Trained for emergency care

• Familiarize yourself with your local emergency medical personnel

• Volunteer vs. Contract

• Tournaments, contact events

• Once on the scene they take care of athlete unless C-spine immobilization is involved

Emergency Medical Personnel and Paramedics of AHCT con’t.

• YOUR role:1. Provide information on how injury occurred

& care given

2. Crowd control

3. Other tasks-Refer to EAP

Emergency Medical Personnel and Paramedics of AHCT cont.

• IF NOT PRESENT:

1. Protect the athlete from further harm

2. Send for help (if needed)

3. Evaluate the injury w/in scope of care*

4. First Aid

5. Provide EMTs info. of MOI and care provided

Physicians of the AHCT

ATCs and Physicians work together to diagnose injuries / illnesses.

Together they also prescribe treatment & rehabilitation.

Physicians of the AHCT con’t

Types of Physicians:

-Family practitioners

-Pediatricians

-Orthopedists

-Ophthalmologists

-Physiatrists

-Podiatrists

Working with Physicians

• Establish working relationship

• Assist with preseason screenings

• Medical coverage for home events

• Support recommendations made

-May have 2nd opinions

After evaluation by a Physician:

-urge follow-up care

Certified Athletic Trainers(ATCs)

• Nationally certified allied health professionals trained specifically in:

• Prevention• Evaluation/Diagnosis of injuries• Treatment• Rehabilitation

• Must work under supervision of physician or referral• Perform initial injury evaluation• Return athletes safely back to participation• Work at facility or contract out• Help develop preseason conditioning• Provide instruction for proper exercise techniques

Your Role Working with an ATC

• Provide information on how the injury occurred

• Support the ATC decisions regarding the athlete’s care & ability to participate

• Encourage the athlete to be compliant in doing rehab. exercises

Physical Therapists (PTs)

• Health professionals who rehabilitate individuals suffering from disease or injury

• Trained to handle:• Cerebal palsy• Strokes• Heart problems• Paraplegia• Burns• Athletic injuries*-Separate Certification

• Specialize

Your Roles Working with a PT

• Provide info. of how the injury occurred

• Support the PT’s decisions regarding the athlete’s care & ability to participate

• Encourage the athlete to be compliant in doing rehab. exercises

Dentists or Oral Surgeons

• Trained to evaluate and treat conditions and injuries of the mouth, teeth, jaw

• Dentist’s education:• 3-4 yrs of undergrad.• 4 yrs of dental school

• Oral Surgeon’s education:• Completed hospital surgical residency program for

training in surgical treatment of conditions affecting the mouth, teeth, jaw, & portions of the face

Your Role Working with a Dentists or Oral Surgeon

• Encourage athletes in contact sports to wear appropriate protective mouth pieces or face protectors

Optometrists

• Not a medical doctor

• Special training & certification in diagnosing vision problems & eye disease

• Prescribe eye glasses, contact lenses, & drugs to treat eye disorders

Your Role Working with Optometrists

• Encourage athletes in contact sports to wear appropriate protective eyewear or face protectors

Strength & Conditioning Coaches

• Can help save you time

• Perform fitness assessments & develop specialized conditioning programs

• Certifications through National Organizations:• National Strength & Conditioning Association

• American College of Sports Medicine

Your Role Working With Strength & Conditioning Coaches

• Insist that athletes attend fitness assessments and participate in all conditioning workouts

Equipment Managers

• Oversee:• Inspection• Cleaning• Maintenance• Storage • Fitting

• Enforce proper equipment usage• In some programs, you are the equipment manager

for your team

Your Role Working With an Equipment Manger

• Help watch for wear and tear

• Enforce proper equipment use by your athletes

• i.e.: no sitting on helmets

• Fit of equipment

• Maintenance

• Use for what it is intended for

Sport First Aid Game Plan

PART II

Sport First Aid Education

• Continue with Certifications:– First Aid– Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)– Automated external defibrillator (AED)

• American Red Cross

• American Heart Association

Sport First Aid Education: Keeping Current

• Always changing

• Sports medicine books, articles, forums, etc

• Keep certifications current– CPR & AED = 1 yr– First Aid = 3 yr

• Participate in “mock” drills

Sport First Aid Education: Recognizing Limitations

DO NOT ATTEMPT THE DUTIES OF A PHYSICIAN, ATC, PT…etc.!!!!!!

• ONLY provide care that you are qualified for: Do not go beyond “scope of care”.

• You may assist medical personal

Keeping Athlete’s Health Records

• You should have from each player’s:– Consent form– Health History form– Emergency Information form

Keeping Athlete’s Health Records: Consent Form

• Cannot give care to a minor unless you have consent!

• Parent or Legal Guardian must complete & return• Form informs parents, legal guardian, & athlete

of:– possible risks of participation– requests permission to treat the child in an emergency,

illness, or injury situation

Keeping Athlete’s Health Records: Health History Form

• Helps to determine predisposing health factors that could affect participation (Red Flags)– i.e.: diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, heart murmurs, allergies, skin

conditions

• If physician clears an athlete, you need:– Description of health problem

– List of Medications that the athlete may need

– Restrictions

Keeping Athlete’s Health Records: Emergency Information Card

• Provides names & numbers of parents & guardians• Alerts you of pre-existing medical problems that may

affect medical treatment– Ie: allergies to medications (sulfur, penicillin)

• Must be completed before the start of the season• Copy should be with team at all times• Reminder: this is confidential material and you may

not distribute it without the permission of the athlete, parent, or guardian

Developing a Weather Emergency Plan

• Helps prevent chaos

• Key items:– Weather decision maker– Specific criteria for when to suspend activities– Weather watcher– Method for monitoring weather conditions– Designated safe place– Guidelines for resuming activity

• Educate staff, athletes, & spectators

Checking Facilities & Equipment

• It is still your responsibility for your athlete’s safety• Equipment check prior to start of season• First aid & ice cool must be present on sideline at all

times– Only basic first aid items– Stocking the First Aid Kit

**It is illegal for you to administer medication of any sort unless given written permission by parent or guardian!!!!

Getting Players Ready to Perform

• To ensure the safety of your athletes complete the following:– Preseason physical exam– Preseason screening– Preseason conditioning– Proper warm-up & cool-down– Protective equipment, bracing, & taping– Correct skill instruction– Sound nutritional guidance– Ban on horseplay

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Preseason Physical Exam

• Require a physical exam• Physician conducts the following exams:

– General health exam– Circulatory– Respiratory– Neurological– Orthopedic– Vision– Hearing– Blood* – Urine*

• Must be completed prior to in-season participation• Become familiar with your athlete’s conditions

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Preseason Screening

• Provides insight about athlete’s fitness• Conduct during off-season (post & pre)• Possible evaluation of:

– Strength– Flexibility– Endurance– Cardiovascular endurance– Body composition– Upper and lower body coordination

• Have present:– ATC– Strength Coach

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Preseason Conditioning

• Start at least 6 wks prior to season• Focus on:

– Muscle strength– Endurance– Flexibility– Power– Speed needed for position/ sports

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Proper Warm-up & Cool-Down

• Warm-up:– before workouts, practices, & competitions– Prepares the body – At least 15 min prior to activity

1. General body warm-up

2. Light calisthenics exercises

3. Sport specific drills

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Proper Warm-up & Cool-Down

• Cool Down:– Performed at the end of workout, practice, or

competition– Reduce the intensity of activity

• Brings HR, breathing back to baseline

– May include walking or light jogging– Include Stretching

• Target each muscle group

• 2-5 min total

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Protective Equipment, Bracing, & Taping

• Expert on how to properly fit & use your sport’s protective equipment-Coach? ATC? Equipment Manager?

• Instruct athletes how to properly wear their protective equipment-Coach? ATC? Equipment Manager?

• Conduct surprise inspections…?• What about protect bracing & taping? ATC!!

This is not a FA skill (do not go beyond scope of care)– Is it mandatory?

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Correct Skill Instruction

• Eval during preseason

• Inform athletes of possible risks– i.e.: diving head first in baseball/ softball

• Proper tackling techniques – Decrease head & neck injuries

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Sound Nutritional Guidance

• Encourage:– Balance meals– Water consumption– Sports drink– Eating 3hrs prior to work out, practice, or

competition– Avoid junk food

Getting Players Ready to Perform: Ban on Horseplay

• Establish rules on day one and follow them!– No exceptions!!!

• Can lead to injury

• Could lead to inappropriate touching or behavior

• Distracting

Developing a Medical Emergency Plan

• AKA Emergency Action Plan (EAP)• Use for home & away events• Activating the the Emergency Medical System (EMS):

– Check, Call, Care• American Red Cross: 3 C’s

• Location of phones• Emergency phone numbers• Directions• Access points

Developing a Medical Emergency Plan: Check

• Specify how you will evaluate the injured athlete

• Plans should address:– What to do first when you arrive at an injured athlete’s

side– Steps for evaluating conscious and unconsciousness– Techniques for assessing breathing when an athlete's

wearing a helmet or is lying face down

Developing a Medical Emergency Plan: Call

• Indicate how to activate the EMS• How do send for medical assistance• Have a Plan:

1. Delegate the responsibility of seeking medical help

2. Write out a list of emergency telephone numbers

3. Take each athlete’s emergency information card to every practice and game

4. Give an emergency response card to the contact person calling for emergency assistance

5. Complete an injury report form & keep it on file

Developing a Medical Emergency Plan: Care

• How will first aid be given?

• If Medical person are there = assist

• If Medical personal are not there = first aid to your qualifications

Handling Minor Injuries

• Many don’t require emergency medical attention

• Steps to monitor & evaluate1. Evaluate the injury

2. Administer first aid

3. Remove the athlete if there is pain or loss of function

4. Contact athlete’s parents

5. Suggest the athlete see a physician

6. Complete injury report form

Handling Serious Injuries

• Initiate your EAP1. Check athlete’s level of consciousness2. Send a contact person to Call EMS & athlete’s parents3. Send someone to wait for EMS to help open doors, gates, & direct4. Check the injury5. Administer first aid (Care)6. Assist emergency medical personal7. Appoint someone to go with athlete if parents are not available

(assistant coach)8. Complete injury report form

INJURIES….or

• QUESTIONS

• COMMENTS

• CONCERNS

• ….Let’s Hear It….