RISK MANAGEMENT

THE EMERGENCY PLAN

Reduce risk of injury and litigation:

Have an Emergency Plan & Practice It!• Pre determined actions in the

event of an emergency: • Procedures need to be posted and

a card in the kit with address of facility and directions to event.

EQUIPMENT Two types of equipment are to be considered:

•Facility‑related

•For the pool; guard chair, life line and poles.

•For the field; goal posts, charging sleds and nets.

•For the weight room; benches, plates and bars

•Personal protective equipment.

•Padding, masks, helmets, worn by participants while engaged in athletic activities.

FACILITIES • Follow a regular system of inspection of facilities.

• Follow a regular system of inspection of equipment.

• Ensure that equipment is purchased from reputable manufacturers and meets current CSA safety standards.

• The appropriate frequency of these inspections is to be determined prior to the start of the sports season.

• The coaches/supervisors of each activity should, ultimately, be responsible to see that equipment safety checklists are filled out regularly, and problem areas addressed.

SAFETY IN SUPERVISION AND INSTRUCTION

When supervising and instructing participants, coaches/instructors should consider the following:

1. Is the athletic activity suitable to the age, ability and condition of the participant?

2. Has the participant/athlete been progressively trained and coached to do the activity properly and to avoid danger?

3. Is the equipment adequate and suitably arranged?

4. Is the athletic activity appropriately supervised by qualified personnel?

5. Has the participant/athlete been informed of the inherent risks involved in participation in particular activity?

SAFETY IN SUPERVISION AND INSTRUCTION

The participant/athlete must be made aware of the inherent dangers of sporting activity.

This can be accomplished by;

• Instilling awareness of the risks of participation,

• Informing of the mechanics of catastrophic injury,

• Informing of the limited capabilities of the facilities and the equipment,

• Making participants/athletes aware that some injury may be inevitable,

• Informing participants/athletes that they have some responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others,

• Informing athletes it is their responsibility to report hazards or potential hazards in facilities and equipment.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURAL POLICY

The development of general administrative and procedural policies should focus on two aspects:

• Preventive measures;

• Accident procedures.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Hiring Policies

Administrators should establish minimum qualifications for‑those individuals involved in the supervision, and instruction of athletics activities (eg. coaches, activity instructors, trainers, lifeguards). Such qualifications could be based on certification guidelines as established by the various sport bodies.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMSWaiver/Consent Forms • A waiver form seeks to inform the participant of the

dangers involved in athletic activity and to minimize liability accorded to the administrator, institution, and supervisor for injuries sustained by the participant while enraged in organized activities.

• A separate issue is the use of facilities and programs by those under the legal age. In this case, a waiver/consent form signed by the parent or guardian will ensure that parents are aware and approve of the athletic activities of their children.

• A lawyer should review all waiver/disclaimer clauses.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS

Health Status & Health Examination Forms

• Where possible, it may be desirable to screen participants for health or medical problems that in some way may limit their ability to participate.

• The information in these forms will enable the administrator to appraise the participants' medical eligibility for participating.

• With this information, first‑aid and medical treatment could proceed with a minimum of delay.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS

Participant Questionnaire

An alternative to the burdensome requirement of medical examinations is the participant questionnaire. Such a questionnaire should contain at the very least the following information;

• the skill level of the participant,

• the physical and mental preparedness of the participant,

• the medical insurance coverage ‑ the type, insurance number and expiry date.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS

Signage

Where appropriate, athletic and recreation department managers should post signs to warn participants of the inherent dangers of athletic participation.

Two types of signage are generally recommended:

• Warning participants of the inherent risks involved in physical activity and/or disclaiming the organization’s liability;

• Outlining emergency procedures.

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

Suggested policies for medical and health issues are as follows;

• an annual medical examination is mandatory,

• the range of medical tests performed must be appropriate for the physical activity,

• all participants are required to submit a detailed medical history.

ACCIDENT PROCEDURES Accident Report Forms

• Serve as an aid to simplify the investigation of accidents,

• Serve as evidence in the event of a lawsuit,

• Help in clarifying situations where legal liability is in question.

• Provide information on the following;

• all injuries which resulted from a sporting activity and required medical treatment,

• equipment problems,

ACCIDENT PROCEDURES

time and place of occurrence activity identification, nature and description of the

accident, participant complaints, mechanism of injuries, medical diagnosis and

disposition,

actions and first aid measures taken,

factors contributing to the accident,

the supervisor on duty, names, addresses, and

telephone numbers of at least two witnesses.

Accident Report Forms incorporate the following information;

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISK OF INJURY IN SPORT

• Exposure to an injury situation

• Potential hazards and unique risks of the sport (classification of sport)

• Position played

• Playing time (duration of game)

• Competitive level

• Amount of practice and training

• Environment

• Type and condition of playing field

• Weather conditions

• Time of day

• Crowd control

• Laxity of officials

• Equipment

• Protective equipment

• Footwear

Extrinsic Factors:

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING OT THE RISK OF INJURY IN SPORT

• Age

• Gender

• Neuromuscular, structural, and performance aspects

• Mental and psychological aspects

• Innate intelligence

• Innate creativity

• Innate motivation

• Innate discipline

• Innate skill level

• Past experience in sports

• Need to take risks of injury

• Incidence of injury

Intrinsic Factors

SUMMARY Most important aspect of Emergency

Care of the injured athlete is to have an Emergency Plan, and the second most important is to practice it.

Expect the unexpected and always be prepared for emergencies.

Reduce risk of injury and litigation with a plan.

PROTECTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Chapter 6

INTRODUCTION Modifications and improvements in

protective equipment for sports continues to occur.

Protective equipment is generally recognized as a viable method of preventing both initial injury as well as re-injury.

Currently there is a need for better standards and rules related to the design, selection and use of protective equipment.

PROPERTIES OF PROTECTION

Dispersion of forces

Deflection of forces

Absorption of forces

LEGAL CONCERNS

Increased Litigation Product Liability Avoiding Litigation Related to Equipment

• Buy best possible from reputable manufacturers• Follow manufacturers directions “to the letter”• Maintain equipment properly and warn

participants about dangers of improper use• Routinely inspect and replace defective equip.

HEAD PROTECTION

Football Helmets• CSA Certification• must be checked prior to each game for

exposed metal, missing or damaged hardware• routine checks for proper fit• all padding in place • Chin strap secure

HEAD PROTECTION

Hockey Helmets Padding should not fall out and should be soft Must have CSA approval sticker No other stickers on the helmet except approved number stickers Proper fit is essential Fit includes snug chin strap Face shields should not impede vision

HEAD PROTECTION

Face Protection Throat and Mouth Protection Ear and Eye Protection Neck Protection

TRUNK & THORAX PROTECTION

Importance of Chest Protection Football Shoulder Pads Breast Protection / Support Rib Protection Hip, Buttocks & Tail Pads Groin and Genitalia

FOOTWARE & ANKE SUPPORTS

Shoes Commercial Foot Pads Ankle Braces

• Spat-type braces• Air Stirrup• Others

Shin and Lower Leg Thigh and Upper Leg

SUMMARY

Athletic Trainers should know how to select and properly fit protective equipment for all parts of the body in a variety of sports.

Head protection, especially the fitting, maintenance, and proper use of football helmets, should be a major liability concern.