Moving injured athletes

Chapter Nine Moving injured athletes



Learning outcomes


Demonstrate a sound knowledge and safe application of moving an injured athlete.



1. Demonstrate a range of transport techniques for injured athletes.


2. List appropriate precautions to be taken when transporting injured athletes.




Assessment of outcomes



Underpinning knowledge


You may be asked a number of written or oral questions related to the precautions for transporting injured athletes. You may also be asked to complete an online task or workbook with related activities.



Practical demonstration


You will be asked to demonstrate effective and safe transport of an injured athlete.



Scenario


You may be asked to transport a number of injured athletes in a simulated sporting environment.



Introduction


In the absence of expert medical help, moving an injured athlete should only be attempted when the athlete is in immediate danger or is capable of being moved safely. Sports trainers are often asked to make this judgement, which varies greatly from the expectations of a first aider. If the athlete is to be moved, it is important to select an appropriate method of movement for the safety of the athlete and the sports trainer.


There are several matters a sports trainer must consider before moving an injured athlete. They include:



image danger and safety


image location


image route of movement


image equipment


image personnel


image urgency


image lifting and carrying technique.



When a sports trainer might consider moving an injured athlete


Sports trainers are often expected to make rapid on-field assessments of an athlete’s condition. Based on this assessment and the sports trainer’s knowledge of sports medicine and first aid principles, there may be occasions when moving an athlete is appropriate. Some of these occasions may include:



image Hard or soft tissue injuries of the arm or hand when the sports trainer can provide adequate injury support during movement off the field.


image Soft tissue injuries of the leg, ankle or foot if the sports trainer can provide adequate support to the injury during movement. Stretchers and support staff should preferably be used. Hard tissue injuries of the lower limbs require appropriate splinting and a stretcher before moving the athlete.


image Most mild to moderate external bleeding injuries.


image Temperature-related illness or injury. Often athletes will need to be transported to a safer environment with less extreme temperature as part of their management.



Methods of moving an injured athlete


A sports trainer would have covered many types of casualty lifts and carries without equipment in their first aid training. In this chapter, we focus on some more advanced casualty moving techniques and equipment available to sports trainers for moving injured athletes.



Moving athletes with suspected spinal injuries


An athlete with a suspected spinal injury should not be moved unless under the supervision of an experienced rescuer and/or paramedic with specific equipment. When moving such athletes, the priorities are:



image airway and circulation


image minimising movement of the head and cervical spine


image minimising movement of the thoracic and lumbar spine, sacrum and coccyx.


The athlete should be moved the shortest possible distance to a safe position. At all stages of the move, the body should be controlled in such a way that the head, neck and spine are immobilised as one body part. The athlete’s arms and legs should first be moved closer to the trunk. Arms should be placed above the head or alongside the body to assist with efforts to roll the athlete like a log. Ideally, the athlete should be fitted with a cervical collar and placed on a spinal board or scoop stretcher.

Related posts:

Functional musculoskeletal anatomy Sports nutrition The sports trainer in action Sports taping Common medical conditions affecting athletes Common sporting illnesses and injuries

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Sep 11, 2016 | Posted by in SPORT MEDICINE | Comments Off on Moving injured athletes

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