Lets Prevent Death

Lightning Safety

• One of the most dangerous natural hazards encountered, causing more than 60 fatalities annually– Most prevalent from May through Sept– Most deaths between 10:00am – 7:00pm

Cervical Spine Injury

• Spinal cord injury that occurs with structural distortion of the cervical spinal column and can affect brain function– Respiratory can be affected– Efficient acute care must be taken

Exertional Sickling

• Lack of oxygen due to irregular RBC• Often confused with heat exhaustion• Athletes should not play in high altitude or

extreme heat– s/s:spasms, weakness, difficulty recovering within

the first half hour on the field

Catastrophic brain injuries

• Mild Traumatic brain injury that when not treated can lead to second impact syndrome and possibly death– 1.6-3.8 million concussive injuries occur annually.

CDC– Brain injuries rank 2nd to cardiac related injuries

Asthma

• Disease in which the airways become inflamed and airflow is restricted– s/s: confusion, sweating, drowsiness, wheezing– Perform a good warm up can prevent

Diabetes mellitus

• Disease of the pancreas, insulin deficiency or resistance which results in the inability to regulate blood sugar

• Autoimmune disorder caused by genetics or environmental factors– Exercise can lower blood sugars, life threatening

only if not managed

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

• Leading cause of death in exercising athletes usually because of structural cardiac abnormality.

– Prevention: pre-participation screening helps.

Head down contact in football

• Axial loading causing a fracture or dislocation above C4 resulting in a crushed spine– Could be intentional on unintentional, cervical

vertebrae are aligned in a straight line• Column will fail and spinal cord damage can occur

– Prevention is Key: head up when you hit

Exertional Hyponatremia“water intoxication”

• Low sodium in blood causing nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle twitching

• Can be fatal