Tagged with 'Athletics'

Make the Game Safer in a Heartbeat

Do your athletes know the importance of heart health?

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) month. Although athletes are generally healthy, they are not immune to cardiac problems. According to The American Heart Association, The NCAA is moving forward with developing guidelines to detect college athletes at risk for sudden cardiac death, including mandated heart screenings. Due to this, time and early detection are vital when these events occur. This makes it essential for athletes, trainers, coaches, and sports organizations to be proactive when responding to sudden cardiac arrest incidents. Taking preventative measures on and off the field is key to ensuring long term safety, heart health, and peak performance in athletes. 

 

Triggers of SCA in Athletes:

  • Underlying heart conditions: Physical examinations don’t always detect heart abnormalities, leaving athletes to believe that they are fine, when in fact they may have an underlying heart condition. This can make them more susceptible to SCA, especially in vigorous sports that demand more stress on the heart.
  • Family history: Many athletes may have a family history of heart conditions that they are unaware of, putting them at higher risk.
  • Overtraining syndrome: Sage Journal explains how Athletes who engage in excessive training or exercise without proper rest may develop hormonal imbalances that could disrupt the heart’s function.

Blunt Force Trauma:

Athletes who participate in high-contact sports are at a higher risk of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest due to the physical nature of these activities. Since high school and college sports can be utterly competitive, this is extremely important to acknowledge. When a blow to the chest occurs at just the right time during the cardiac cycle, it has the potential to be fatal. This is something that all athletes and coaches need to consider, since this can happen without any preexisting heart abnormalities.

 

Remind Your Athletes To:

  • Cardiac evaluations:  Undergo specific cardiac evaluations to identify any underlying heart conditions or risk factors before the season, such as EKGs.
  • Periodic checkups:  Schedule regular checkups with a healthcare provider to assess blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. 
  • Rest if needed: Take a break if needed. Do not ignore symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations – inform the coach or trainer immediately.

SCA Prevention by Athletic Trainers and Coaches:

  • Regular drills and testing: Conduct emergency response drills that involve the use of AEDs and CPR to get coaching staff and all players familiar with using the equipment.
  • Maintenance and inspection of AEDS: Evaluate all AED units and accessories, verify that they are strategically placed throughout the facility, and replace batteries when needed.
  • Hydration and recovery: Ensure players are hydrated by allowing regular water breaks to prevent dehydration or heat-related illnesses.

Stay Prepared:

SCA does strike without warning among athletes. However, there are tactics that sports facilities, coaches and athletes can focus on to minimize these risks, but they must work as a team. Staying prepared and informed about heart health is an important thing to do – this month, and every month. 

School Heath offers AEDS, AED accessories, CPR training kits, hydration products, and more to support the health and safety of your school athletic program.

 

Resources:

https://www.utphysicians.com/what-to-know-about-sudden-cardiac-arrest-in-young-athletes/#:~:text=Most%20SCA%20cases%20are%20due,never%20detected%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/pulse-oximetry                      

https://www.sportsmedtoday.com/commotio-cordis-va-88.htm

https://www.drdavidgeier.com/blunt-trauma-and-sudden-death-in-young-athletes/

https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/sports-injuries/overview-of-sports-injuries

https://www.healthxchange.sg/fitness-exercise/sports-injuries/prevent-running-hazards-dehydration-sudden-cardiac-event

https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/automatic-external-defibrillators-aeds/onsite-placement-of-an-aed-is-critical#:~:text=This%20means%20the%20AED%20should,to%20access%20and%2For%20see.

Posted in AED, Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Athletics

USSA MESS Course Prepares Sports Medicine Professionals for More Challenging Work

USSA MESS Course Prepares Sports Medicine Professions for More Challenging Work

Those in the Sports Medicine profession, especially those that deal with snow-related activities, know that it’s more than ankle tape, cuts, and bruises when caring for athletes. Injuries can get real and intense in a blink. We know that practice makes perfect, and this readiness and preparation is no different. This past May, the Medical Emergencies in Skiing and Snowboarding course (MESS) provided education and skill development for the those in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Medical Pool. During this course, participants learned about acute injury triage and illness commonly seen when traveling with elite level teams. Even in the summertime, this course, developed for PTs, ATs, MDs, and POs, offered unique insight into how to assist athletes who play winter sports.

Dr. Jaron Santelli, the Sports Medicine Director at the United States Ski and Snowboarding Association (USSA), was one of the leaders of this course.

“Standing on the side of the hill and working in cold environments is different than responding to an injury on a basketball court or a football field,” Santelli said. “Since we have a variety of specialties, there are different skill sets, so this is a way to upscale the providers with the skill we need them to know.”

The MESS course is specifically designed for professional volunteer staff and provides a Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians and medical providers, which is a requirement to join this medical pool.

Santelli shares a passion for sports, athletes, and their safety. Her experience and education as an emergency medicine doctor provides important insight for properly responding to emergencies on the slopes.

“I went to medical school with the intention to be in sports medicine. I have been around sports and snowboarding my whole life from Division I to the professional level. When the USSA job was available, I saw an opportunity to give back to a community that has always been there for me.”

Skiing and Snowboarding are individual sports, so USSA athletes are always working towards accomplishing challenging individual goals, which makes the day-to-day and culture a bit different than if they were playing a team sport.

“We have numerous sports within USSA, so we are always dealing with different cultures, athlete population, and ages,” Santelli said. “These athletes are true craftsmen and professionals in their field and there is something special about watching them work towards something like the Olympics.”

School Health was a sponsor of the MESS course and has a growing relationship with USSA as they work together to make sure the athletes are receiving quality treatment with the best equipment possible.

“School health has provided not only support in coverage, but also, they provide a lot of our medical equipment. They are always generous in terms of donations and improvements in our products. We look forward to this continued partnership and increasing that partnership in the future.”

School Health provides these items to keep USSA well equipped:

·        Pocket BVM with Black Case

·        Aer Cervical Collar

·        Fasplint Vacuum Extremity Splints

·        Fasplint Fullbody Mattress Set

·        5.11 Tactical Emergency Ready Pouch and Bag

The USSA hosts the MESS course in January of next year. Check back here for updates.

Posted in Athletics

National Athletic Training Month 2023: ATs are Immediate Responders

 

National Athletic Training Month 2023: ATs are Immediate Responders

As National Athletic Training Month 2023 comes to an end, we want to thank Athletic Trainers for caring for their athletes and keeping them game ready throughout the season. Athletic Trainers are immediate responders, and they are often the first on the field when an athlete falls. 

Throughout March, we asked athletic trainers across the country to share stories about how they stayed prepared for game day, assisted their athletes through injury and recovery, helped them get back in the game, and more.

Below are just some of their answers!

Have you responded to an athletic emergency? Share your story. 

This summer, while I was working a track meet, I had a runner go into heat exhaustion, which triggered an epileptic seizure. I got him covered and cooled as best we could until he was out of the seizure, and then we were able to get fluids in him. He was fine. - La'Tamera F.

Had an athlete collapse and go into cardiac arrest after warmups. Performed CPR and got him quick medical care. He’s doing amazing now! – April Gonzalez

I have responded to multiple emergencies while employed as an AT. One being a female wrestler fractured humerus. She thanked me the next year while participating in the same contest! – Tanner K.

Share a story about how you helped an athlete recover after an injury. 

In 2020 I had a female athlete who tore her ACL tumbling. She had surgery right before the pandemic hit. Because of COVID, PT clinics were closed the first few months, and by the time she was able to go to PT, she was behind in her strength and ROM. I spent the 2020-2021 year working with her in improving her strength and ROM and getting her back to play just in time for track season. – Chelsea H.

I work at a high school, and I have rehabbed an athlete after they tore two of the three ligaments in their ankle. It seemed like it wouldn't get better, but after three months of working together the athlete was back playing basketball and competing in track. – Mercedes Tiger Athletic Training

One of my favorites was a track athlete who came in the Monday before State and could barely lift their arm above their head. Shoulder was just killing them. It appeared to be a muscle strain. JV coach was freaking out as this kid was favored to win State and was a multi-event individual. We came up with a plan and talked sense into both of them. All week, the athlete did exactly what was asked of them, and we followed the plan. They won State in more than one event – new State meet record included – and team State champs. Amazing weekend and a round of high-fives for helping to get that shoulder back to fighting form. – Kelsey D. 

Athletic Trainers are healthcare heroes because…

We usually are the initial responder to injury and involved in every step in a safe return to play. – Beau K. 

My husband (the AT in the house) said, “Because we make a difference in people’s lives.” – Wendy H. 

“We are the first person the athletes see in the morning and the last person they see when they leave. We are here for the tiniest of scratches to the ACL tear and everything in between. All this and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” – Nic T.

“…Because we treat everyone and try to leave people better than we initially met them. We’re freaking awesome!” - Mikki C.

At School Health, we know that the role of the athletic trainer is always changing, and no two days are ever the same! Thank you for everything you do to help athletes of all ages – from high school to elite sports – succeed in their dreams.