Sports prehospital-immediate care and spinal injury: not a car crash in sight

Abstract

The prehospital management of serious injury is a key skill required of pitch-side medical staff. Previously, specific training in sports prehospital-immediate care was lacking or not of a comparable standard to other aspects of emergency care. Many principles have been drawn from general prehospital care or in-hospital training courses. This article discusses sports prehospital-immediate care as a niche of general prehospital care, using spinal injury management as an illustration of the major differences. It highlights the need to develop the sport-specific prehospital evidence base, rather than relying exclusively on considerations relevant to prolonged immobilisation of multiply injured casualties from motor vehicle accidents, falls from height or burns.

The FIFA medical emergency bag and FIFA 11 steps to prevent sudden cardiac death: setting a global standard and promoting consistent football field emergency care

“…The FMEB and FIFA 11 Steps to prevent SCD are part of a comprehensive preventative programme to appropriately manage SCA14 15 and other acute life threatening or serious field-of-play medical emergencies. Both the FMEB and FIFA 11 Steps to prevent SCD are part of a broader preventive philosophy promoting player safety and football as a health enhancing leisure activity.…”

“…Medical emergencies on the football field are not common2 but, if and when they occur, it is imperative that immediate recognition, on-field response and acute medical management are available to the player. Such emergency treatment is most efficiently administered by on-duty medical personnel3 using the appropriate equipment,4 until such time as emergency medical services arrive on scene to assist with additional treatment and/or transfer of the player5 to the nearest, most appropriate medical facility 6…”

“…In the absence of adequate competency in the recommended life-saving medical skills related to the contents of the FMEB or knowledge of the current standards of care of the expected football field emergency medical conditions, these inadequacies should be improved by implementation of the FIFA football emergency medicine training courses, undertaken locally by the confederations and/or MAs for team physicians, venue medical officers and field-of-play medical team members 13. Additional qualifications such as prehospital basic14 and advanced life support qualifications are strongly recommended as the minimum level of skill competency and knowledge.…”

When This Happens, You Want the Best Care: Players’ Experiences of Barriers and Facilitators of the Immediate Management of Rugby-Related Acute Spinal Cord Injury

“…First aiders and paramedics play an important role in the prehospital management of ASCIs by means of fast on-field recognition and early stabilization (BokSmart, 2012). However, the majority of first-aiders is unlikely to deal with catastrophic injuries on a regular basis (Hanson & Carlin, 2012). Nevertheless, first aiders should be knowledgeable about the clinical presentation of these injuries (Dunn, 2009).…”

Set-piece approach for medical teams managing emergencies in sport: introducing the FIFA Poster for Emergency Action Planning (PEAP)

“…When traumatic and non-traumatic emergencies in football (soccer) occur, it is imperative that the healthcare professionals responsible for players are trained and equipped to recognise and provide appropriate care. 1 To support and promote a consistent level of emergency medical care on the football field, reduce errors and limit human errors, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) proposes a standardised protocol for medical teams managing emergencies in sport: the Poster for Emergency Action Planning (PEAP). 2 The FIFA PEAP (figure 1) illustrates a process by which medical teams organise themselves to deliver prioritised care in emergency scenarios and minimises the risks that are inherent when working in the complex and often publicly viewed prehospital environment of competitive football.…”