SMAC Newsletter for Winter 2021
COVID-19
IMPORTANT RESOURCES: COVID-19 Requirements & Mandates
For all other resources & information related to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 section of the CHSAA Sports Medicine page on CHSAANow.com.
Head, Heart and Heat
Click Below:
Sports Medicine Advisory Handbook
Click Below:
PURPOSE
The CHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee is a collective group of medical and educational professionals whose expertise provides current information to the association membership. It is designed to reflect and evaluate information provided throughout several resources.
MISSION
The mission of the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) is to provide information, vision, and guidance to the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), while emphasizing the health and safety of students participating in interscholastic sports and activities.
Athlete Hygiene/Skin Infections
The transmission of infections such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Herpes Gladiatorum, blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis B, and other infectious diseases can often be greatly reduced through proper hygiene.
UNIVERSAL HYGIENE PROTOCOL FOR ALL SPORTS
- Shower immediately after every competition and practice, using liquid soap and not a shared bar of soap
- Wash all workout clothing after each practice, washing in hot water and drying on a high heat setting
- Clean and/or wash all personal gear (knee pads, head gear, braces, etc.) and gym bags at least weekly
- Do not share towels or personal hygiene products (razors) with others
- Refrain from full body and/or cosmetic shaving of head, chest, arms, legs, abdomen and groin
SKIN INFECTIONS
Viral Skin Infections – Herpes gladiatorum and herpes labialis (cold sores)
Fungal Skin Infections – Tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea capitis, tinea pedis, tinea cruris
Bacterial Skin Infections – Impetigo, Folliculitis, Carbuncle
CHSAA recommends the following actions:
- Prevention – Remind athletes to shower immediately after practice/meets, change workout clothes/socks daily and do not share equipment or towels.
- Be Vigilant – Look at athletes’ skin daily for wounds or lesions, clean and cover open wounds or scrapes so they don’t get infected and let athletes know they should report skin lesions to the coaches or athletic trainer immediately.
- Seek Treatment – Get athletes to a health care provider immediately for diagnosis and treatment of skin lesions. Many of these skin infections require minimum treatment times in order for the athletes to be eligible.
For complete CHSAA Athlete Hygiene and Skin Infection information, please click HERE.
Spine Injury
MANAGEMENT
- Immediately stabilize the Cervical spine.
- If a helmet is present it should not be removed unless proper personnel are onsite (3 or more with proper training in equipment removal).
- If helmet remains in place, ATC or EMS should remove facemask using appropriate tools while maintaining the head and neck in a neutral position.
- Stabilization of the neck in a neutral position is performed by grasping behind the ears and cupping the back of the head and simply supporting the head, preventing side to side, forward or backward motion or rotation of the neck.
- Under no circumstances should traction be applied to the athlete’s head or neck.
- If the athlete is in a sport without protective gear or protective gear has been removed, a cervical collar should be placed by ATC. Cervical collar alone is not enough to protect the neck, continue to hold stabilization.
- The athlete’s head should be moved into the neutral position unless moving the athlete’s head/neck causes increased pain, muscle spasm, loss of neurological function or restriction in range of motion.
- A player found in the prone position (on stomach/facedown) must be returned to the supine position (on back/faceup) for evaluation.
- The proper technique for transitioning the prone patient to supine is the “prone log roll technique”
- This means that the body, arms, legs and head, with 4-6 people helping, are all rolled together as a unit at the same speed.
- Emergency cards should be easily accessible, and parents of the athlete should be contacted ASAP.
- It is the responsibility of the school to contact their local EMS services and to have a protocol in place for management of suspected spine injuries. This is a vital part of EAP and training.
- Once EMS arrives, they will assume responsibility of the situation and may add or remove equipment as they see necessary. There should continue to be teamwork between ATC, on-field staff and EMS.
For complete CHSAA Spine Injury information, please click HERE.
Head Trauma & Concussions
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or neck that can change the way your brain normally works.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION
Physical
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Poor balance
- Seeing “stars”
- Neck pain
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Numbness/Tingling
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Ringing in ears
- Vacant stare/Glassy eyed
Emotional
- Irritability
- Personality change
- Feeling more emotional
- Feeling anxious/nervous
- Sadness
- Inappropriate emotions
Cognitive
- Disorientation and/or confusion
- Feeling mentally “foggy” or “slowed down”
- Memory loss or difficulty remembering
- Difficulty concentrating, feeling easily distracted
- Slowed and/or slurred speech
Sleep/Energy
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Increased sleep
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
For complete CHSAA Head Trauma & Concussions information, please click HERE.
Hydration/Dehydration
AVERAGE FLUID VOLUMES FOR ADOLESCENTS
- 4 hours before → 16 fluid ounces of water (about 1 water bottle)
- 10-15 minutes before → 8 fluid ounces of water
- Every 15 minutes when exercising for < 1 hour → 4 fluid ounces of water (2-3 large gulps)
- Every 15 minutes when exercising vigorously for > 1 hour → 4 fluid ounces of sports drink (2-3 large gulps)
- Do not drink > 1 quart per hour during exercise
- Young athletes should continue to hydrate 2-3 hours after event
- Consume 20-24 fluid ounces (1 to 1 ½ water bottles) of water or sports drink for every pound lost during exercise
For complete CHSAA Hydration/Dehydration information, please click HERE.
For all CHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee Information, please click HERE.
