Injury Assessment

Name____ANSWER KEY______Chapter 5 Injury Assessment Evaluation Emergency Scenarios

1. A lacrosse athlete is down on the field and motionless. The athlete was struck on the head by an opponent’s stick and was hit from behind by a teammate. In your assessment of this situation, what “red flags” would indicate a serious emergency and activation of EMS?

The “red flags” would include:  airway obstruction  respiratory failure  severe shock  severe chest or abdominal pains  excessive bleeding  suspected spinal injury  head injury with loss of consciousness  fractures involving several ribs, the femur, or pelvis

2. A gymnast slipped off the springboard on an approach to a vault and collided full force into the horse. Initially, the gymnast was lying on the floor motionless. As you approach, you observe the gymnast moving an arm and groaning. Conducting a primary survey, you determine that breathing is shallow, pulse is normal, and the gymnast is somewhat lethargic. Explain the ongoing assessment of this athlete. A secondary survey should be conducted, including:  history of the injury (e.g., primary complaint, pain, sounds)  observation and inspection for bleeding, discoloration, swelling, deformities, skin color, and pupil size and reaction  palpation for temperature, swelling, point tenderness, crepitus, deformity, muscle spasm, cutaneous sensation, and pulse  assessment of motor function (e.g., grip strength)

3. A football player is down on the field. Because of the mechanism of injury, a possible head or neck injury is suspected. The player is having difficulty breathing. What is entailed in ensuring access to the athlete’s airway? The helmet does not need to be removed. It is only necessary to remove the face mask to have access to the airway. Removal of the face mask is as follows:  One trained individual should maintain in-line stabilization of the head and neck during the entire procedure.  Another individual should cut the two lower clips on the facemask and swing the mask up and away from the facial region. Emergency Scenarios 2

4. An African-American athlete is unconscious. Demonstrate assessment of skin color. The skin color of the African-American is assessed by observing skin color at the mouth, tongue, lips, and nail beds.

5. During a 10K road race, a runner collapses. When you arrive at the scene, the runner is conscious. Since you do not know the medical history of the runner, what questions should you ask to determine a related medical history? The questions should include whether the runner had any previous:  respiratory or vascular problems  heat illness  seizures  chronic medical problems  loss of consciousness or head injuries