|
In any guard, there are bound to be injuries. If you or anyone is hurt at practice or whatever, you MUST tell your director
immediately! If he/she isn't there, find an adult and tell them. These tips are just for reference, just in case your band
director or adult doesn't know what to do. I got these directions from my hospital, I didn't make them up. These are word-for-word
directions on how to treat minor injuries. If you do these directions wrong and mess up the injury more, I AM NOT AT ALL RESPONSIBLE
FOR YOUR ACTIONS. These methods are put on here just for your reference. All first aid tips come from the Kaiser Permanente
Healthwise Handbook.
- A STRAIN is an injury caused by overstretching a muscle.
- A SPRAIN is an injury to the muscle and the ligaments, tendons,
or soft tissues around a joint.
- A FRACTURE is a broken bone.
Generally speaking, if the injury is to a muscle,
ligament, tendon, or bone, the basic treatment is the same. It is a two-part process: RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
to treat the acute pain or injury; and MSA (movement, strength, alternate activity) to help the injury heal completely and
to prevent further problems.
Begin the RICE process immediately for most injuries. If you suspect a fracture, call
an ambulance or go immediately to the hospital.
R. REST. Do not put weight on the injured joint for at least 24 to
48 hours.
- Use crutches to support a badly sprained knee or ankle.
- Support a sprained wrist, elbow, or shoulder
with a sling. The inconvenience is justified by the faster healing of the injury
- Rest a sprained finger or toe by
taping it to a healthy one.
Injured muscle, ligament, or tendon tissue needs time and rest to heal itself. Stress fractures
need rest for two to four months to heal.
I. ICE. Cold will reduce pain and swelling and promote healing. Heat feels
nice, but it does more harm than good until all of the swelling is gone.
- Apply ice or cold packs immediately to prevent
or minimize swelling. For difficult-to-reach injuries, a cold pack works best.
C. COMPRESSION. Wrap the injury with
an elastic (ACE) bandage or compression sleeve to immobilize and compress the sprain. Don't wrap it too tightly; this can
cause swelling beyond the injury. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. A tightly wrapped sprain may fool you into thinking
you can keep using the joint. With or without a wrap, the joint needs total rest for one to two days.
E. ELEVATION.
Elevate the injured area on pillows while you apply ice and anytime you are seated or lying down. Try to keep the injury at
or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
- Ibuprofen may help ease inflammation and pain. Do not
use drugs to mask the pain while you continue to use the injured joint.
- The use of heat after 48 hours of cold treatments
is controversial. Some experts think it will increase swelling; others think it may speed healing. If you use heat, do not
apply anything that is uncomfortably warm.
Begin the MSA process as soon as the initial pain and swelling have subsided.
This may be in two days or up to a week or longer, depending on the location and the severity of the injury. Resume sports
and activities slowly. Consider and increased pain and a sign to rest a while longer.
M. MOVEMENT. Resume a full
range of motion as soon as possible after an injury. After one to two days of rest, begin moving the joint. If an activity
causes pain, continue resting the joint. Gentle stretching during healing will ensure that scar tissue formed as the injury
heals wil not limit movement later.
S. STRENGTH. Once the swelling is gone and range of motion is restored, begin
gradual efforts to strengthen the injured part.
A. ALTERNATE ACTIVITIES. After the first few days, but while the
injured part is still healing, phase in regular exercise using activities or sports that do not place a strain on the injured
part.
WHEN TO CALL A DOCTOR:
- If you suspect a severe sprain or fracture, call for an urgent-care or same-day
appointment. After you have splinted the injury and applied ice, a short delay in professional care will not affect the outcome.
- If a sprained injury is very unstable, won't support your weight, or wobbles from side to side.
- If pain is
still severe after two days of home treatment.
- If a sprain does not improve after four days of home treatment.
|
