Plan for
Emergency Action
When it is time to contact the EMS
system, STAY CALM! The EMS authority
will need the following information:
1. Any information on the severity of
the injury.
2. What first aid is being provided.
3. The address and location of the injured
athlete.
4. Where you will meet the EMS team.
Visual 9-1
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Primary Survey
A = Airway
B = Breathing
C = Circulation
Visual 9-2
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Clearing an Airway
1. Wear gloves.
2. Grasp the mouth and OPEN THE JAW
with your thumb and index finger.
3. Use your index finger to do a finger
sweep to REMOVE ANY objects.
Note: This only is done on a child or
infant if you can see the object!
4. MAKE AN AIRWAY using the
HEAD-TILT/CHIN-LIFT maneuver OR
Jaw-thrust maneuver.
Visual 9-3
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Head-Tilt/Chin-Lift
Maneuver
Visual 9-4
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Jaw-Thrust Maneuver
Visual 9-5
Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.
If Breathing is Absent
1. Call for help.
2. Immediately correct any severe
breathing problems. (Clear the
airway of any obstructions.)
3. Begin rescue breathing.
Visual 9-6
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Signs of Circulation
If NONE of these signs are present,
begin CPR:
• Normal Breathing
• Movement
• Coughing
• Carotid Pulse
Visual 9-7
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Log Roll
the method used to turn a patient
with a spinal injury, in which
the patient is moved to the
side in one motion
Visual 9-8
Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.
It was the first game of the season and the team was playing at St.
O’Leary High School. In the third quarter Germane, the starting defensive
back, hit the running back head on, went down in a lump, and didn’t move.
Terry, one of the student athletic trainers, accompanied the head trainer,
Mr. Hill, out to the injured player, who was face up. Mr. Hill checked his
vital signs. The vitals were good, but Mr. Hill was concerned about
Germane’s neck. Terry was told to stabilize his neck while Mr. Hill used a
Trainer’s Angel to remove the facemask. If things took a turn for the worse
they would at least have unobstructed access to his airway.
This was all very scary, but Terry knew what she had to do because they
had practiced this very scenario many times and were ready in cases like
this. They went to work without even thinking twice. As soon as Mr. Hill put
his hand to the athlete’s head, the student trainers went about the jobs
they were trained to do in situations like this: Terry stayed to assist Mr.
Hill; Emily went to activate EMS, and show them in; and Justin went to get
Germane’s insurance information.
Visual 9-9
Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.
The next day Germane was fine. He had been taken to the hospital
for x-rays and further evaluation. All the student trainers met with Mr.
Hill and walked through what had happened the previous day. It was
a great feeling to know that all the practicing they had done, which
had seemed kind of boring at the time, was well worth it.
Why was it a good thing that the injured football player was face up?
Why is it important to have a plan for activating the EMS? What are
the benefits of reviewing the plan of action before and after an
emergency situation has taken place?
Visual 9-10
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Secondary Survey
a head-to-toe physical assessment;
an additional assessment of a
patient to determine the existence of
any injuries other than those found
in the primary survey
Visual 9-11
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Orientation
the ability to comprehend
one's environment regarding
time, place, situation, and
identity of persons
Visual 9-12
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Mechanism of Injury
how the injury
occurred
Visual 9-13
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Isolated
Injury Assessment
a thorough examination of
a specific part of the body to
determine the extent of injury
that may have occurred
Visual 9-14
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HOPS
a system of medical evaluation
based on:
History,
Observation,
Palpation, and
Stress tests
Visual 9-15
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HOPS Procedure
History: (Based on subjective findings.) How did
the injury happen? When did it happen? Has
this ever happened to the athlete before? What
did he or she hear or feel? Did anyone else see
what happened?
Observation: (Based on objective findings.)
Compare the uninvolved side to the involved
side, always checking the uninvolved side first.
Is there any swelling, deformity, numbness,
discoloration, bleeding, or break in the skin?
Look for any scars from previous surgeries,
muscle atrophy, or loss of range of motion.
Visual 9-16
Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.
HOPS Procedure, Cont.
Palpation: Ask the athlete to point to the area
that hurts. Feel for deformities, spasms, pulses,
breaks in the skin, and changes in temperature.
Stress Tests: Check the active range of motion,
then the passive range of motion, and finally
perform resisted manual muscle testing.
Additional special tests may also be needed.
Some common special tests are discussed in
the injuries sections of this chapter. If you feel
that assessment or treatment of an injury is
beyond your abilities, activate the EMS or refer
the athlete to a physician as appropriate.
Visual 9-17
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Body Planes and
Directional Terms
Visual 9-18
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