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 AHCT
9 Legal Definitions
1. Plan activity
2. Provide Proper Instruction
3. Warn of inherent Risks
4. Provide safe physical environment
5. Provide adequate and proper equipment
6. Match your athletes appropriately
7. Evaluate athletes for injury or incapacity and refer
to ATC or appropriate health care provider: Do
not go beyond scope of care!
8. Supervise activity
9. 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 & evaluate
1. 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 EAP
1. Check athlete’s level of consciousness
2. Send a contact person to Call EMS & athlete’s parents
3. Send someone to wait for EMS to help open doors, gates, &
direct
4. Check the injury
5. Administer first aid (Care)
6. Assist emergency medical personal
7. 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….