Emerg

Emergency Situations—CPR by a Health-care Provider

Emergency Situations—Trauma

Suspected Spinal Injury

• Assess athlete's level of consciousness, airway, breathing, circulation, & neurological status; if athlete is unconscious & prone, place scissors under athlete's nose to assess breathing (scissors should fog when athlete is breathing)

• Do NOT move athlete unless essential to establish/maintain an airway

• Face mask should be removed immediately regardless of respiratory status

  • Stabilize the head & neck by placing index fingers in helmet ear holes

  • Unscrew or cut clips near ear holes to allow face mask to be swung away

• Helmet & chin strap should remain in place unless:

  • Helmet & chin strap do not hold head securely

  • Face mask cannot be removed in <1–2 min.

  • Helmet prevents immobilization for transport

• If helmet is to be removed

  • One medical professional should stabilize head t/o entire process by firmly grasping base of the occiput & maxilla

  • Another medical professional should:

    • Cut, do NOT unsnap, chin strap

    • Deflate air pads

    • Remove cheek pads by sliding 2 tongue depressors between the cheek pads & helmet; twist tongue depressors to unsnap pads

    • Tilt the helmet anteriorly to clear the occiput & slide the helmet off the athlete's head

    • Do NOT spread the sides of the helmet because this will squeeze the forehead & occiput

    • Remove shoulder pads by cutting center straps

    • Don a rigid cervical collar

• If athlete does not have a pulse, cut open jersey & shoulder pads down the center of the chest to perform CPR

• Posturing that may indicate TBI

  • Decerebrate: head retracted & all extremities extended

  • Decorticate: LE extended but UE flexed at elbow & wrist, fists clenched

Source: Inter-Association Task Force, http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&section=Original_Articles&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=329.

Spine Boarding Technique