Download treatment of injury

Injury treatment
Signs and symptoms
Signs:
Symptoms:
What you can see
for yourself –
swelling, bleeding,
bruising, pallor of
the skin etc
What the injured
person can tell you
– pain, nausea,
discomfort, etc
Treatment of simple
performance injuries
First and most important
principle is, if in doubt, seek
qualified help!
You need to know about:
Blisters
Concussion
Cuts/grazes
Dehydration
Exhaustion
Ligament injuries
Muscle injuries
Tendon injuries
Winding
RICE
blisters
Form when skin
repeatedly rubs
against another
surface (friction)
Tear occurs between
upper layers of skin
and fluid seeps into
space
Common feet/hands
Caused by ill fitting
footwear,
imperfections on
grips, or just from
friction
Blister treatment
Don’t pop
Padded dressing
Large blisters may need to be
drained
If skin is broken, disinfect and cover
with dressing to prevent infection
concussion
Usually result of blow
to head which causes
jarring of brain
against inside of skull
and swelling of the
brain’s surface
Signs: pale, fast
shallow breathing, fast
pulse, cold, drowsy,
unstable, confused.
Could be temporarily
unconscious
Concussion treatment
Seek medical treatment
Keep warm/comfortable
Keep conscious
Don’t offer water or other drinks
(even if they ask)
Grazes
Graze – when top
layer of skin
scraped off, usually
caused by sliding
(friction burn)
Signs – red, raw
Symptoms - pain
cuts
Skin cut open
Sign – bleeding
Symptom – pain
Treatment – simple cuts, clean and cover
with antiseptic dressing
Deep cuts – apply pressure with dressing
or squeeze sides of cut together
Raise the limb to reduce blood flow to it
Seek qualified medical help
Dehydration
Usually caused in
sport by excessive
perspiration
combined with
inadequate fluid
intake – as in long
endurance events
Exhaustion
Often associated
with activities in
extreme
environments
Signs
Difficulty in
maintaining balance
and coordinating their
movements
Low temperature
Dilated pupils
Weak pulse
Pale, moist skin
Fainting spells
Dry and tacky feel to
mouth
sickness
Symptoms
Headaches
Feeling sick
Feeling dizzy
Feeling very weak
Treatment
Dehydration
Exhaustion
Re-hydration (fluid
intake – electrolyte
drinks, not alcohol
or caffeine)
Seek medical help
in serious cases –
loss of more than
15% of body fluid
can cause seizure,
brain damage or
even death.
Rest
If related to heat
or cold – cool
(loosen clothing,
fan, use lukewarm
cloths) or warm
(use blankets,
additional clothing)
as appropriate.
Re-hydrate (not
alcohol or caffeine)
Effects of dehydration on the body
Winding
Caused by blow to
abdominal area
temporarily paralyses
the diaphragm
Signs – difficulty
breathing, gasping,
inability to speak,
bent double at waist
Treatment – place in
reclining, seated
position.
Injuries to ligaments, tendons and
muscles
Strains – to muscle and/or tendon –
caused by overuse, excessive force or
over-stretching
Sprains – to a ligament(s) surrounding a
joint – caused by wrench or twist
Tears – within muscles or ligaments, or
when muscle fibres torn away from
tendons attaching them
to bones – caused by
violent movement
Strains, sprains and tears
Often caused by not warming up
properly
Signs – can’t put weight on injured
part
Symptoms – pain, swelling
Treatment: RICE, although tears may
need surgical repair
RICE
Rest – continuing to
play may make injury
worse – allow body to
recover/heal
Ice – cools tissues and
constricts blood
vessels = less
bleeding/swelling
Compression – helps
reduce
bleeding/swelling
Elevation – reduces
swelling and blood
loss