Regardless of what sport is being played, injuries are something that occur very frequently. A player may get injured because of the poor sportsmanship of another player, because of an accident, or because of numerous other reasons. Whatever the reason, there are a number of steps that should be taken when a player gets hurt on the field. This will ensure that the player receives the attention they need and help people determine if the player needs further medical attention. Let’s look closely at three steps you should take if a player gets hurt while on the field.
Evaluate the Injury
There are a number of common soccer injuries that take place over the course of one game. Football, hockey and other sports have their own set of issues as well. While concussions seem mild among head injuries, they can be very serious. This is especially true if a player suffers from a number of concussions over a short amount of time. It can also be dangerous if a player does not get proper medical attention when an injury occurs. It is important to have someone knowledgeable evaluate the injury and determine if medical assistance is needed.
Get the Player Off the Field
Once a serious injury has occurred, it is tempting to get the player immediately off the field. This will allow the game to go on and the player to receive medical attention. Depending on what the injury is, you want to take your time completing this task. Let the player sit for a moment while everyone else takes a knee. If they can get up and walk on their own, you can allow it. Otherwise, seek medical help to transport the player to a safer spot.
Prevent Further Injuries
Take this unfortunate event and learn from it. Try to figure out how you can prevent someone else from getting injured in the same way. You can educate your players on the safe ways to conduct a certain play or movement. Help everyone understand why safety is so important moving forward.
How you respond to an injured player on your team can greatly affect their outcome with recovery. Make sure that you take the time needed to assess what is going on in order to figure out how to properly treat the injured person. Though the game might be paused when a player is injured, it’s important to remember that health and safety in sports should be the first priority. Through taking these three steps, you can help to ensure that an injured player is properly and promptly taken care of.
