Emergency Care in Physiotherapy

1. Emergency Care in Athletic Training
Chapter 1
Keith Gorse, Robert Blanc, Francis Feld and Mathew Radelet
Presentation Prepared by:
Asma Lashari
University of Health Sciences

2.  During the second half of a boy’s high school
basketball game a player collapses on the court.
Play is immediately stopped by the referee, and
he goes to check on the player. The referee then
yells for assistance from the athletic trainer
covering the event. The athletic trainer runs onto
the court to check on the unresponsive player. He
checks all vitals and finds that the player is not
breathing and has no pulse. At this point, what
should the athletic trainer do to help the stricken
player?

3.  Development and implementation of an EAP
 The sports medicine staff and emergency
team
 Initial patient assessment and care
 Emergency communication
 Emergency equipment and supplies
 Venue locations
 Emergency transportation
 Emergency care facilities
 Legal need and documentation

4.  Development of an EAP
 Proper coverage of athletic events and
practices
 Maintenance and upkeep of emergency
equipment and supplies
 Selection of appropriate personnel as part
of the sports medicine team
 Continuing education of the sports medicine
team in emergency medical care

5.  Emergency action plans should be developed
by organizational or institutional personnel in
consultation with local emergency medical
services.
 Once developed, the EAP is implemented
through documentation of the plan,
education of those involved, and frequent
rehearsal of the plan itself.

6.  Emergency team members, such as team physicians,
may not necessarily be present at all athletic events,
and this should be taken into account during
development of the various plans.
 The location and type of equipment required may be
different among the sports teams and venues. For
example, outdoor sports with a high risk of heat
illness may require a large tub or wading pool to be
used for emergency cooling of athletes at risk of heat
stroke.
 This equipment would not be required for indoor
sports.

7.  A copy of the EAP specific to the venue
should be posted by an available phone or
some other prominent marked position at
that site.
 During an emergency, the makeup of the
emergency team can vary depending on who
is at the scene at the time of the emergency.

8.  Athletic trainer: First responder and
immediate care
 Team physician: First responder and
immediate care
 Team coach: First responder and activate
emergency medical system
 Athletic training student: First responder and
equipment retrieval
 Equipment manager: First responder and
direction of EMS to scene

9.  1. Immediate care of the athlete
 2. Emergency equipment retrieval
 3. Activation of the EMS system
 4. Direction of EMS to the scene of the
emergency

10. Activation of the EMS System:
 1. Make the Call—1122 ( if available ) OR:
 2. Use direct telephone numbers to local police,
fire, and/or ambulance departments,
Provide Information to the EMS System:
 1. Name, address, and telephone number of the
caller
 2. Number of athletes involved in the emergency
 3. Condition of the athlete(s)
 4. Treatment initiated by members of the
emergency team
 5. Specific directions to the emergency scene

11.  CHECK—CALL—CARE System
CHECK
 The scene to make sure it is safe to aid the
athlete
 The scene to find evidence on what happened
to the athlete
 The victim for airway, breathing, circulation,
fractures, and bleeding

12.  1122 or the local emergency management
service
 Give proper directions to the injury site
 Meet ambulance at scene and direct to
injured athlete

13.  Calm and reassure the injured athlete
 Reassess and monitor all vital signs
 Control any bleeding
 Immobilize any injured body part
 Provide CPR/AED and appropriate first aid as
needed

14.  A backup communications plan should be in
effect should there be failure of the primary
communication system.

15. common modes of
communication;

16. communication tree posted beside
landline phone.

17. Emergency equipment (AED) on
the sideline.

18. First aid kit with contents clearly
labeled for easy access.

19. Equipment
■ AED unit
■ Immobilization splints
■ Stretcher/spine board
■ Airway bag—valve Mask
Supplies
■ First aid kit
■ Sterile bandages
■ Tape and elastic wraps
■ Blood borne pathogen kits

20. Specific Venue Location EAP
 Emergency Personnel on Site Practices,
games, tournaments, and all other activities
Athletic trainers, physicians, coaches, EMS
personnel.
 2. Emergency Communication Phones and
handheld radios Emergency phone numbers.

21.  Emergency Transportation
 Emergency Care Facilities
 Legal Need and Documentation

22.  Emergency Equipment AED, first aid kits,
splints, spine boards Ambulance on site
 Emergency Procedures Includes all venue
drawings, maps, and directions
 Instructions on all CHECK—CALL—CARE items
 Directions to nearest emergency care facility