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Athletic Training Procedures

Concussion Procedure

●     If a student athlete suffers a concussion during any athletic event at Pottsville Area School District, the sports medicine staff will conduct an initial evaluation. The Sports Medicine Staff will utilize the SCAT-6 to complete this evaluation.

●     Any student athlete that suffers a concussion must be cleared by a licensed physician.

●     After clearance from a licensed physician the student athlete MUST go through a 5-day Return to Sport progression with the Athletic Trainer BEFORE being cleared to return without restrictions.

●     The 5-day Return to Play progression is set by the overseeing physician of the Athletic Trainers at Pottsville Area School District.

●     The Pottsville Area School District Sports Medicine staff uses the following return-to-play protocol

○     Day 1: Full day of normal cognitive activities and walking at school without return of signs or symptoms. Introduce light aerobic exercise - 15-20 minutes on stationary bike, no weightlifting, resistance training, or any other exercise.

○     Day 2: Moderate aerobic exercise - 30-45 minutes of conditioning/running and light weight lifting.

○     Day 3: Moderate aerobic exercise and activities without the threat of contact from others

○     Day 4: Non-contact practice and normal training activities.

○     Day 5: Unrestricted training and practice

○     Day 6: Return to Play

●     Each student athlete will begin on Day 1. If any symptoms return during the activity, the athlete will stop the activity immediately, and restart that activity the following day. When the athlete becomes symptom free, they must wait 24 hours before attempting Day 1. The athlete cannot progress to the next day in the cycle until passing the previous day.

●     The following links will provide information pertaining to the ImPACT test and at home instructions for athletes that suffer concussions.

○     ImPACT test instructions

○     At Home Instructions for Concussion

Thunder/Lightning Procedure

●     The Pottsville Area School District Sports Medicine Staff will make all decisions regarding suspensions of practice, and assist the competition officials in the event that lightning activity imposes a potential danger.

●     If thunder is heard, or lightning is seen all events will be immediately suspended and shelter should be seeked. All appropriate personnel will be notified if there is a lightning strike within 10 miles of the site.

●     The event will be suspended for 30 minutes upon the first strike of lightning or hearing thunder. Any subsequent lightning or thunder after the 30 minutes has started will reset the clock and another 30 minute count should begin.

●      Designated personnel will utilize reliable weather monitoring systems to aid in monitoring weather conditions.The designated personnel will meet with officials and coaches to discuss the procedures of severe weather.

●     In the event of an evacuation due to lightning, every person at the event should seek immediate shelter in a safe structure. A safe structure is consider to be:

○     A substantial building with plumbing and wiring where people live or work, such as a school, gymnasium or library.

○     A fully enclosed metal car (not convertible or soft top) or school bus

○     Any open aired structures ARE NOT  considered safe structures

●     The Pottsville Area School District Lightning Safety Procedure will be reviewed with all appropriate staff members annually.

Heat Procedure

Exertional Heat illness includes exercise-associated muscle cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and exertional heat stroke (EHS). Current best practice guidelines suggest that the risk of exertional heat injuries can be minimized with heat acclimatization and diligent attention to monitoring individuals participating in activities that place them at a higher risk for these types of injuries. In the event an athlete sustains a heat illness, immediate and proper treatment is needed.

National governing bodies, such as the National Federations of High School Associations (NFHS), Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), have published guidelines for the prevention, monitoring and treatment of exertional heat illnesses. In addition, national authorities such as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the Korey Stringer Institute have published research to support best practices in this area. The development of the organization’s heat acclimatization guidelines will be based on the current best practice documents.

Definitions of Exertional Heat Illnesses

●     Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps (EAMCs) - Sudden or sometimes progressive and noticeably evolving, involuntary, painful contractions of skeletal muscles during or after exercise.

●     Heat Syncope - Often occurs in unfit or heat-unacclimatized persons who stand for a ling period of time in the heat or during sudden changes in posture in the heat, especially when wearing a uniform or insulated clothing that encourages and eventually leads to maximal skin vasodilation.

●     Heat Exhaustion- The inability to effectively exercise in the heat, secondary to a combination of factors, including cardiovascular insufficiency, hypotension, energy depletion, and central fatigue.This condition is manifested by an elevated core body temperature and is often associated with a high rate or volume of skin blood flow, heavy sweating, and dehydration.

●     Exertional Heat Stroke - Exertional heat stroke is the most severe heat illness. It is characterized by neuropsychiatric impairment and a high core body temperature, usual >105℉. This condition is a product of both metabolic heat production and environmental heat load and occurs when the thermoregulatory system becomes overwhelmed due to excessive heat production or inhibited heat loss or both.

Exertional Heat stroke Procedure

  1. Remove all equipment and excess clothing
  2. Cool the athlete as quickly as possible within 30 minutes via whole body ice water immersion. Stir water and add ice throughout the cooling process.
  3. If immersion is not possible, (no tub or water supply) take athletes into a cold shower or move to a shaded, cool area and use rotating cold, wet towels to cover as much of the body surface as possible.
  4. Maintain airway, breathing and circulation.
  5. After cooling has been initiated, activate EMS by calling 911.
  6. Monitor vital signs such as rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, monitor CNS status.
    1. If rectal temperature is not available, DO NOT USE AN ALTERNATE METHOD (oral, tympanic, axillary, forehead sticker etc.) These devices are not accurate and should never be used to assess an athlete exercising in the heat.
  7. Ice Water Immersion /cooling should continue for 10-15 minutes prior to transport. (3 mins. of ice water immersion lowers the core temperature by one degree. 15 mins lowers the core temperature by 5 degrees)
  8. ALWAYS COOL FIRST THEN TRANSPORT

Heat Acclimatization

 Heat Acclimatization period is defined as the initial 14 consecutive days of preseason practice for all student athletes. A proper heat acclimatization plan is essential to minimize the risk of exertional heat illnesses during the preseason practice period. Gradually increasing student-athletes’ exposure to the duration and intensity of physical activity and to the environment minimizes exertional heat-illness risk while improving athletic performance.

Athletic Injury Procedure

●     In order to be cleared each athlete must have a complete physical examination, complete a full health history, and all forms complete on Student Central.

●     A student athlete should inform the Athletic Training Staff (ATS) of any injury as soon as possible. The ATS will complete an initial evaluation, and determine the next course of action.

●     In the event a student athlete goes to a doctor on their own, or advised by the ATS, a note is needed. Medical releases are required  for any physician appointment(s) to ensure the student athlete is cleared for participation in athletic activity. Unless a medical release is provided following a physician visit, the ATS will assume the student athlete is not cleared to participate.

●     In the event of any injury when an athletic trainer is not present, the coach will be responsible to immediately contact the Athletic Trainer. In the event of an emergency, the coach should immediately call EMS.

●     The athletic training staff will have direct communication with coaching staff on the availability of their student athletes. The athletic training staff will communicate with the parents/guardians of the student athlete with any important information and instructions about their injuries.