First Aid & Accident Reporting for Coaches and Managers Allen Alston, League Safety Officer (206) 327-2311 -- alston12@comcast.net 2018 Season
LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Identifies Safety as the first priority of its leagues Requires the annual filing of a League Safety Plan Requires an annual inspection of all playing fields Requires that at least one coach or manager attend a Little League oriented first aid class every year
GOALS OF THIS CLASS Provide basic first aid techniques. Review safety protocols Review the league s accident reporting procedures Provide concussion response and return to play protocols
SAFETY RULES Are found in the SLL Safety Plan Are designed to protect the players (and coaches) Every Coach should know and enforce them
LEGAL PROTECTION Good Samaritan Law RCW 4.24.300 Provides protection from liability for lay person first aid. The league maintains liability insurance that further covers its volunteers.
SPORT INJURIES Ball to face Ball to other body parts Bruises/contusions Sprains and Strains Broken bones Bleeding Knocked out teeth Concussions
INJURY SCENARIOS
How about the Umps? The bigger the catcher the better.
PREVENT INJURY Warm them up Avoid overuse Proper Mechanics Track Pitch Counts
FIRST AID CONSIDERATIONS Do not move a victim until you are sure that the injury is not severe. Do not hesitate to call 911 if you are at all worried about whether it is save to move them.
DON T HESITATE TO CALL 911 Call 911 for the following Cardiac or respiratory arrest Difficulty in breathing Uncontrolled bleeding Fractures that stick through the skin Unconsciousness Seizures Allergic Reaction
FOR SPRAINS, STRAINS, CONTUSIONS Don t use heat
KNOCKED OUT TOOTH The put the tooth in milk won t work, because it has to be whole milk and nobody drinks whole milk anymore. If the player is willing - have them hold the tooth under their tongue. If they refuse have them spit in a cup and put the tooth in the spit in the cup. Even if it is bloody spit. Do not wash or try to clean the tooth. Get the player to a dentist as soon as possible, less than an hour if possible. The dentist may be able to save the tooth.
BE AWARE In very, very rare cases a sharp blow to the chest can cause a person to go into cardiac arrest. If the victim is unconscious and not breathing active 911 and begin CPR. A sharp blow to the solar plexus can briefly cause an inability to breath. The victim will be conscious and will be attempting to breath. They will be freaked out, but regular breathing will shortly return.
DON T EXPOSURE YOURSELF TO BLOOD
BEWARE OF BLOOD PRACTICE UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS Assume that everyone s blood is potentially contaminated. Even children's. Take steps to prevent contamination.
IN FIRST AID SITUATIONS Wear nitrile gloves Prevent exposure to blood and bodily fluids
WOUND MANAGEMENT Wash and disinfect the wound Apply antibiotic cream Bandage and keep the wound dry
MONITOR THE WOUND Watch the wound carefully See your doctor immediately if the wound isn't healing or you notice any redness, increasing pain, drainage, warmth or swelling
PITCH COUNTS COUNT Pay close attention to pitch counts. Watch to see if they are showing signs of pain. Pull them if even they are not close to their allowable number of pitches.
SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST Call 911 immediately Send someone to meet the responders and guide them to the victim Begin CPR ASAP
THE ABC OF CPR IS NOW CAB (CIRCULATION AIRWAY BREATHING) The order of response changed Chest compressions now come before rescue breathing 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths Compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. Deep and Fast - 2-inches for an adult, 1/3 the depth of the rib cage for a child
KEEP IN MIND You perform CPR on dead people It is a holding action to make it possible for them to be revived with a defibrillator The sooner you start CPR the greater the victim s chances are for revival You must get the paramedics there as fast as possible
LIGHTENING Stop the game immediately Return all players to the dugout If there is no dugout move them away from metal backstop and to cars Do not resume the game until 20 minutes have passed with no lightening
PLAY OR NOT PLAY AFTER AN INJURY You should make an evaluation of the player s injury. The safe course is to have them sit out for a period of time. DO NOT be influenced by parental desire for Johnny or Janie to: > shake it off > walk it off > gut it out > brace up
WHAT IS A CONCUSSION A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that cause the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This movement causes the brain to bounce around and twist inside the skull. This creates chemical changes in the brain and sometimes the stretching and damaging of brain cells.
CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS OBSERVED BY COACHES OR PARENTS Appears dazed or stunned Vacant facial expression Moves clumsily or displays lack of coordination Slurred speech Answers questions slowly Concussion information sheets are in the team Safety Plan Folder and are posted on the SLL website.
CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS OBSERVED BY COACHES OR PARENTS Shows behavior or personality changes Can t recall events before or after the hit Seizures or convulsions Loses consciousness (even briefly) Seizures, Convulsions or Loss of Consciousness are 911 Events
LATE SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION MAY INCLUDE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: ** Unconsciousness Change in sleep patterns ** Nausea or vomiting Amnesia Balance problems or dizziness Don t feel right Blurred, double, or fuzzy vision Fatigue or low energy Pressure in head Sadness Neck pain Sensitivity to light or noise Nervousness or anxiety Feeling sluggish or slowed down Irritability Feeling foggy or groggy More emotional Drowsiness Confusion Repeating the same question/comment Concentration or memory problems (forgetting game plays)
BE AWARE SOME PLAYERS MAY NOT REPORT SYMPTOMS I M OK COACH Fear of looking weak Letting their teammates down Not being able to play
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AFTER A SHARP BLOW TO THE HEAD Remove from play Observe the player s behavior Notify parents Provide them with the CDC Heads Up information sheet. Recommend that the player be evaluated by a Health Care provider. Inform the parents that the player cannot return until they provide a Physician's Medical Release (in SLL Safety Plan packet and on the SLL website). Seizures, Convulsions or Loss of Consciousness are 911 Events
MEET WITH THE PARENT(S) Provide them with the CDC Heads Up information sheet. Recommend that the player be evaluated by a Health Care provider. Inform the parents that the player cannot return until they provide a Physician's Medical Release (in SLL Safety Plan packet and on the SLL website). Seizures, Convulsions or Loss of Consciousness are 911 Events
Medical Release If you suspect that an injury will require medical attention send a copy of this form home with the parent. Tell them that if the injury requires medical attention they should have their doctor sign the release If you suspect that the injury may have caused a concussion ask them to bring you a release form before allowing the player to return. Keep copies in the gear bag
INJURY TRACKING REPORT After an Incident: Complete a Incident/Injury Tracking Report They are in your Safety Plan folder (also available online as a fillable PDF) Email to Allen Alston, Safety Officer Call Allen Alston if you need assistance or to run interference with the parents
IN EVERY GEAR BAG THERE SHOULD BE: A first aid kit Ice packs SLL Safety Plan folder Accident/Incident Tracking Report CDC Heads Up parental information flyer Medical Release form
Allen Alston, League Safety Officer (206) 327-2311 -- alston12@comcast.net