Brochure

for
Athletes
By: Emma
Kammann

Any person who plays a sport should know of the

possible repercussions because of the long term
impact that these could have on your life. An
athlete is responsible for knowing how to safely
play their sport, however sometimes freak
accidents happen and the athlete and their
families need to be prepared and understand the
consequences. This brochure will outline some of
the more serious possibilities and teach the
athlete some of the signs and symptoms of shock,
brain injuries, and spinal injuries. This way any
athletes can be prepared in case of emergency, if
themselves or a teammate has an injury, they will
be able to know how to help without causing
further injury.
 What Is Shock?

SHOCK: a life threatening medical condition of low blood perfusion to

tissues resulting in cellular injury and inadequate tissue function

Types of Shock:

1. Neurogenic - Injury or trauma to the nervous system (spinal cord, brain), and nerve impulse

that go to blood vessels are impaired, which cause blood vessels remain dilated and blood
pressure decreases.

Symptoms: A loss of bladder functions, bowel functions, and below the level of injury there is an
absence of touch (pain).

Treatment: restore sympathetic function, stabilizing the spinal cord, properly positioning an
anesthetized patient, or an epidural.

2. Hemorrhagic A type of shock that is the most common, and also known as Hypovolemic, which
is a life-threatening condition that results from when a person loses more than one-fifth (20%) of
their bodys blood.

Symptoms: Headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, weak pulse, weakness, confusion, loss of
consciousness, abdominal pain, blood in urine, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, and pale, clammy
skin.

Treatment: Blood Plasma Transfusion, Platelet Transfusion, red blood cell transfusion,
intravenous crystalloids, and medications: dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

3. Respiratory Trauma to the respiratory tract (trachea, lungs) that causes a reduction of oxygen
and carbon dioxide exchange. This causes the rest of the bodys cells to not receive enough
oxygen.
 Symptoms: Low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, weal pulse, rapid breathing, pale, cool,
clammy skin, drowsiness, shallow breathing

Treatment: Hook up to oxygen mask, provide a steady flow of oxygen, elevate feet,
medications, surgery on thoracic cavity, or a trach implantation.

Brain Injuries:
Warning Signs Indicating the Athlete has a Head Injury: Clear/blood tinged fluid draining from
the ear/nose, Loss of Consciousness, Headache, Visual Disturbance, unequal pupils, Nausea, Seizures,
and Speech Problems.

Describe immediate treatment: Keep patient flat, treat for shock, watch for breathing problems,
dont attempt to stop the flow of drainage, and note how long the victim is unconscious

Spinal Cord Injury:

Signs and symptoms of spinal cord injury: Loss of bowel/bladder control, extreme pain pressure
in: neck, head, back, weakness, incoordination, impaired breathing, oddly positioned neck or back

Immediate treatment: call for help, keep the person still, dont move the head or neck, place
towel by the head and neck to keep it still, and apply pressure for bleeding.

Long term treatment if it leads to paralysis: prevent bowel/ bladder retention, prevent
infection, prevent bed sores, prevent for shock, watch for breathing problems, immobilization,
possible long term rehab, and surgery.

TYPES OF PARALYSIS:
1. Hemiplegia Paralysis on one side or half of the body
2. Paraplegia Paralysis in lower extremities
3. Quadriplegia - Paralysis in both arms and legs
Sources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/shock/article.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/shock/article_em.htm
http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/
http://www.healthline.com/health/head-injury
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/basics/symptoms/con-
20023837
Google Images
Power Point over shock