Doug King RCpN DipNg PGCertHealSc(SptMed) NZRL L3 Trainer SMNZ Sports Medic
             The case where a player is injured on the field is the coaches, players and supporters nightmare. This occurs as an unplanned and unwanted event that nobody wishes to happen to them, or their teammates.
             Considered the basics in sports medicine it is often necessary to go over these topics to reinforce these basics and review our current practices before and when we have to deal with these emergencies. Preperation for the events and the emergencies and assessment of the injured player is vital to ensuring that nothing is left to chance and the player can return to the game in the shortest time possible by enhancing their recovery chances if and when the injury occurs.
             Planning for an emergency should be undertaken both prior to the season starting, and before the actual game takes place. Everyone with the team has a role and within that role is a responsibility to each other, the team, their teammates and to the game over all. Such planning needs to encompass all the "what ifs" that can occur and how to react to them.
             Injuries within the game can range from a minor sore finger through to life threatening situations and should be planned for irrespective of the possibility. Someone within the team management should ideally have formal training to deal with the possibility of the severe injury and they should assume that role if and when an injury occurs.
             Before the season/tour: One of the simplest but most often overlooked components of a disaster plan is the list of emergency phone numbers. For those within New Zealand they may remember that when the television series 911 was viewed many people dialled this number in an emergency and initially were met with an unconnected phone call. Sometime minutes are vital and these simple mistakes can delay the immediate treatment necessary. This problem has now been addressed and people can still get di...