Little LeagueDistrict 17 – Safety Clinic

Instructor:

Mark A. JohnsonEMT

January 2009

IntroductionIntroduction✔ Baseball is the second most commonly played

team sport in the United States.

✔ Over 160,000 kids under the age of 15, are treated annually in the ER for Baseball/Softball related injuries.

✔ Injuries from thrown balls are the most common.

✔ 50% of youth pitchers will sustain an injury during the season.

Legal Aspects Legal Aspects . Good Samaritan Law: Prevents a rescuer who has

voluntarily helped a stranger in need from being sued for ‘ wrongdoing’

. Consent: You need permission from the patient. If the patient is a minor get permission from the parent or legal guardian.

. Implied Consent: Permission to help an unresponsive Patient is assumed.

TopicsTopics

✔ Universal Precautions

✔ First Aid

✔ Proper Techniques for Warm-up/Stretching

✔ Specific Baseball Related Injuries

✔ Minimizing Risk of injury for Pitchers

Universal PrecautionsUniversal Precautions

✔ Universal precautions is a way to limit the spread of disease by preventing contact with blood and body fluids.

✔ . Use PPE ( disposable gloves, eye protection, Mouth shield).

Assess Scene, Assess Victim, Alert EMSAssess Scene, Assess Victim, Alert EMS

✔ Survey scene to ensure your safety

✔ Check your victim

✔ Call 911 (give description of emergency and location)

✔ Provide appropriate care until EMS arrives

Survey the SceneSurvey the Scene

✔Determine if the scene is safe

✔Determine cause of accident

✔Determine number of victims/bystanders✔NEVER MOVE THE VICTIM (unless immediate life-threatening danger)

Assess VictimAssess Victim✔ Assess level of consciousness

✔ Check for an open airway

✔ Check for breathing

✔ Check for heartbeat

✔ Check for bleeding

Airway, Breathing, CirculationAirway, Breathing, Circulation

✔ Kneel next to victim's head

✔ DO NOT remove safety gear!

✔ Stabilize head and neck

✔ LOOK, LISTEN & FEEL

✔ Chin Lift

✔ Rescue breath (if unnecessary)

✔ Check for signs of life

Sudden IllnessSudden Illness

✔ Confusion or LOC✔ Difficulty breathing✔ Chest pain/pressure✔ Abdominal pain

➢ Severe headache➢ Slurred speech➢ Vomiting➢ Seizures

Care For Sudden IllnessCare For Sudden Illness

✔ Vomiting- place on side

✔ LOC - lay flat and elevate feet

✔ Seizing - Nothing in mouth keep patient from harm

✔ Call “911”

Specific AlimentsSpecific Aliments

✔ Sudden Illness✔ Diabetes✔ Asthma✔ Shock✔ Wounds✔ Burns

➢ Musculoskeletal➢ Choking➢ Poisoning➢ Bites/Stings➢ Heat related injuries

DiabetesDiabetes

✔Type I and Type II✔Eat small meals prior to practice/games✔Identify symptoms

✔Dizziness, Drowsiness, Confusion, Cool skin, diaphoretic and rapid pulse

✔If conscious – give oral sugar✔Call “911”

AsthmaAsthma

✔ Constriction of airways

✔ Exercise, Environment or Stress induced

✔ Bring Inhaler to practice/games

✔ Stop physical activity, sit in cool place, use inhaler

✔ Call “911”

ShockShock

✔ Life threatening condition✔ Severe bleeding✔ Injury✔ Sudden illness✔ Without proper treatment (death may occur)

Signs of ShockSigns of Shock

✔ Restlessness or irritability✔ Altered LOC✔ Cool, pale and diaphoretic✔ Rapid breathing✔ Rapid pulse

Care for ShockCare for Shock

✔ Call “911” immediately✔ Lay flat, elevate feet ✔ Control bleeding✔ Prevent over heating✔ Nothing to drink

WoundsWounds

✔ Avulsion – a portion of skin is torn away.

BruiseBruise

✔ Bleeding occurs under the skin causing discoloration and swelling

LacerationLaceration

✔ Split in the skin by a sharp object.

PuncturePuncture

✔ Piercing of the skin by a sharp object

AbrasionAbrasion

✔ A portion of the skin is rubbed or scrapped away.

Caring for Minor WoundCaring for Minor Wound

✔ ALWAYS use latex gloves when caring for wounds

✔ If risk of splashing – wear protective glasses

✔ Stop bleeding, by applying pressure with clean dry cloth

✔ If bleeding persists, raise wound above heart level

Caring For A Major WoundCaring For A Major Wound

✔ Remember to wear gloves and protective glasses✔ Cover wound with a clean dressing, press firmly✔ Elevate wound above heart level✔ Cover clean dressing with roll bandage✔ If persists, apply 2nd bandage✔ Call “911”

Special Problems . . . Special Problems . . .

✔ Impales Object✔ Splinters✔ Nosebleeds✔ Oral Injury✔ Avulsion of Tooth✔ Amputations

Things to Remember w/WoundsThings to Remember w/Wounds

✔Always wear protective gloves and eyewear✔Call “911” if:

✔ bleeding is bright red and spurts✔ Wound is very deep and large✔ Victim is in sever pain✔ Can not wash the debris from the wound✔ The wound needs stitches

BurnsBurns

✔ Solar Radiation

Burns

Solar Radiation BurnsSolar Radiation Burns

✔ Cool the Burn✔ Protect burn by

staying out of the sun✔ Use SPF 15 or greater

sun screen✔ Cover burned areas

Musculoskeletal InjuriesMusculoskeletal Injuries

✔ Over 200 Bones, over 600 muscles✔ Sprain✔ Strain✔ Growth plate injuries✔ Dislocation✔ Fracture

Muscle CrampsMuscle Cramps

✔ May be sign of heat exhaustion✔ May be due to electrolyte imbalance✔ May be due to dehydration✔ Improper condition✔ Treat with rest, massage area and gentle

stretching

SprainSprain

✔ Tearing of the ligaments at a joint

✔ The joint swells and is painful

✔ Treat with ice initially

➢ Rest joint ➢ Continue rest even if

symptoms are gone➢ inadequate rest may

cause chronic re-injury

StrainStrain

✔ A stretching and/or partial tearing of muscle or tendons

✔ May be caused by working the muscle to hard

✔ Treat with ice initially

➢ Rest joint ➢ Continue rest even if

symptoms are gone➢ inadequate rest may

cause chronic re-injury

Growth Plate InjuryGrowth Plate Injury

✔ May be avulsion, fracture or contusion

✔ Exhibits swelling, tenderness and pain

✔ Treat with ice

✔ Rest

✔ If fracture or avulsion is suspected refer to MD

DislocationDislocation

✔ Joint deformity (may be obvious)

✔ Unable to move affected area

✔ DO NOT REDUCE

✔ Keep immobile

✔ Call parents for transport to hospital

FractureFracture✔For minor fracture

✔ Splint, ice, elevation, all parent to transport to hospital

✔For major fracture✔ Do not move patient✔ If open fracture – place gauze over expose bone✔ Call “911”✔ Apply ice

✔DO NOT REDUCE

ChokingChoking

✔ If conscious, Heimlich maneuver

✔ If unconscious, chest compressions

PoisonPoison

✔ Ingestion

✔ Inhalation

✔ Absorption

Poisoning By IngestionPoisoning By Ingestion

✔ Call “911” or Poison Control✔ Signs - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain,

burns around lips✔ Determine type of poison✔ Do not give anything to eat or drink unless

instruct my EMT

Poison by InhalationPoison by Inhalation

✔ Call “911” or Poison Control

✔ Signs – pale or bluish skin

✔ Remove victim from toxic fumes ASAP

Insect StingsInsect Stings✔ If stung by bee – remove

stinger

✔ Wash area with soap and water

✔ Cover to keep clean

✔ Apply ice to reduce swelling

✔ Apply hydrocortisone cream

✔ Troubling breathing – Call “911”

SpidersSpiders✔Only (2) spiders in US are poisonous

✔ Black Widow✔ Brown Recluse✔ Symptoms – nausea, vomiting,

difficulty breathing, sweating and sever pain

✔ If suspected stung by one of these spiders, wash wound, apply ice & call “911”

Snake BitesSnake Bites

✔ (4) Kinds: Rattlesnake, Water moccasin, copperhead & Coral Snake

✔ Call “911”

✔ Wash wound, immobilize area and keep lower than heart

✔ DO NOT apply ice, cut wound or apply tourniquet

Animal BitesAnimal Bites

✔ Wash area with soap and water

✔ Apply dry dressing✔ DO NOT try to catch

animal✔ If suspect rabid

animal – call “911”

Heat Related IllnessesHeat Related Illnesses

✔ Heat cramps

✔ Heat exhaustion

✔ Heat stroke✔ In hot weather, provide break at

least twice a hour

✔ Allow athletes to drink water at will

✔ NEVER DENY water

Heat CrampsHeat Cramps

✔Painful muscle spasms✔Occur from a combination of water and salt loss✔Tend to occur in the legs and the abdomen

✔ Have victim rest in cool place✔ Provide with cool water✔ Stretch muscle gently and massage area✔ May resume activity once cramp ceases

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion

✔Blood flow to skin increases, blood flow to vital organ decreases✔ Victim goes into mild shock✔Symptoms:

✔ Normal to below temperature, pale, moist cool skin, headache and exhaustion

✔ Have victim rest in cool place, provide water and void further activity

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke✔ Occurs when heat

exhaustion symptoms are overlooked

✔ Sweating stops

✔ Body temperature rises

✔ Signs: hot, red, dry skin rapid weak pulse, shallowing breathing

➢ Move to cool area, cool water and CALL “911”

➢ Ice to waists, ankles and armpit

➢ DO NOT apply rubbing alcohol

➢ Give 4 oz of H2O every 15

min.

Proper HydrationProper Hydration✔ Avoid sport drinks prior to or

during practice/game

✔ Drinks: Water or Propel

✔ Avoid red drinks

✔ Avoid soda or caffeinated beverages

✔ Ask players to drink water prior to game/practice

Proper Techniques for warm up/stretching

. Do not bounce during stretching. Stretch each muscle for 10 to 15 sec

. Light jog before game

Baseball Related Injuries

. Ankles. Knees

. Shoulders. Rib cage

. Feet Early in the season due to shoes

Risk Of Injury For Pitchers

. Pitch count. Proper Warm Up

. Ice after the game Elbow and Shoulder

Thank You

Have A great Season