chapter 2. The medical team
C Murray and P O’Neill
A critical aspect of success in sports relates to the time spent training and practising. This theory is equally applicable in providing medical assistance and is particularly relevant when dealing with emergency scenarios: airway, breathing, circulation, neck stabilization, and player transfer. A medical team that has rehearsed the various scenarios that may arise on the field of play prior to the event will be much more effective and efficient in dealing with a situation if it occurs.
This book is not a substitute for a course in emergency management but is a reminder of steps you should take in the stressful situation of dealing with an injury on the field of play. It is mandatory to have undertaken specific training in these techniques.
KNOW YOUR TEAM!
A list of all emergency phone numbers should be readily available:
• Local doctor
• Local accident and emergency room
• Ambulance
• Local dentist
• Fire Brigade
Familiarize yourself with techniques and practise as a team. Each member of the team should know their roles in an emergency scenario.
Know your players – medical conditions, injuries, etc. Player welfare is more important than winning.
Appropriate equipment should be available and in good condition. The following lists give suggestions for the contents of the physiotherapist’s bag and the team medical bag.
THE PHYSIOTHERAPIST’S BAG
• Ice pack and wet towel
• Cold compress/cold wipe
• Crepe bandages: 7.5 cm and 10 cm
• Water bottle/fluids
• Protective gloves
• Orthopaedic shears/scissors
• Airway and face mask
• Quick-drying adherent spray/skin toughener
• Pretaping underwrap
• Adhesive Elastoplast support bandages 7.5 cm and 10 cm
• Zinc oxide tape 2.5 cm and 5 cm
• Adhesive orthopaedic felt
• Ribbon gauze (2.5 cm) tie-ups
• Gauze swabs – sterile
• Petroleum jelly
• Topical irrigation solution
• Antiseptic ointment/spray
• Cotton wool balls – sterile
• Adhesive surgical dressing (Mepore)
• Adhesive skin closures
• Paraffin gauze dressing – sterile
• Fabric Elastoplast strip
• Mefix/Hypafix adhesive dressing 10 cm
• Nasal sponges
• Eyewash
• Blister kit: 2nd Skin-type gel, Compeed, gel-lined digital caps
• Chiropody nail pliers and emery board
• Light insole (cut to size)
• Triangular bandage and pins
• Mallet finger splint
• Soap
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
• Nasal decongestant
• Smelling salts
• Massage oil/creams
• Freeze spray
MEDICAL BAG
This bag should be available to the team for all matches and should be familiar to coaches, physios, and the backroom team – even if there is no physician in attendance.
• Ice pack
• Cryo/Cuff
• Water bottle
• Examination gloves
• Ice freeze
• Gauze swabs
• Nasal packing/nasal tampons
• Tape cutter
• Adhesive skin closures
Taping
• Skin toughner
• Toughner remover
• Pre-taping protective tape (e.g. Fixomull/Hypafix)
• Rigid sports tape (2.5 cm, 3.8 cm, 5 cm) (e.g. Leukotape/Mueller M Tape)
• Elastic adhesive bandage (2.5 cm, 5 cm)
• Adhesive felt
• Orthopaedic support foam (e.g. Leukofoam)
• Compression bandage (5 cm, 7.5 cm, 10 cm)
• Cylindrical elastic support (e.g. Tubigrip)
Wound care
• Gauze pads, various sizes
• Tape, tape cutter
• Adhesive skin closures
• Tincture of benzoin
• Irrigation solution (physiological saline, eyewash)
• Compression bandage
• Alcohol swabs
• Skin care pad (e.g. 2nd Skin, Compeed)
• Adhesive dressings (e.g. Primapore, OpSite)
• Antiseptic ointment/spray (e.g. Betadine, Savlon)
• Melolin dressings ×12
• Sudocrem
Orthopaedic/neurological
• Cervical collar (adjustable)
• Guedel airway and face mask
• Triangular bandage/shoulder sling
• Extremity splints (fibreglass with padding, malleable aluminium, air, vacuum)
• Crutches
• Joint support braces
• Heel lifts
• Arch supports
• Temporary orthotics/insoles