Introduction
According to Dr. Richard Nahas, sports injuries are fairly common at both professional and amateur levels. In fact, common sports injuries that athletes can suffer from include sprains, fractures, cuts, abrasions, strains, bruises, and even concussions. That is why it is crucial to have trained medical professionals during sporting events that can provide the necessary first aid and prevent the injuries from getting worse.
The Reasons
Here are a few reasons why you should hire paramedics for sporting events:
- Paramedics at sporting events can offer immediate medical attention – When sports injuries and ailments are not treated promptly, they can turn into life-threatening injuries in many instances. That’s why it is not wise to wait for a typical ambulance to arrive which can take 10 to 15 minutes.
Paramedics at sporting events can provide proper first aid immediately and reduce the severity of the injury, if possible, to prevent life-long complications. They have real-life experience which will ensure they don’t get shocked at the sight of gruesome injuries and can handle their responsibilities swiftly to save lives.
- Paramedics can offer proper first aid treatment – Sprains and strains are the most common types of sports injuries and they require a specific form of treatment which is based on the RICE method. Let’s look at it below:
- Rest – The injured area is kept at rest and supported for at least 48 to 72 hours.
- Ice – Ice is applied to the injured area for 20 minutes every two hours for 48 to 72 hours.
- Compression – An elastic bandage is firmly applied over the injured area.
- Elevation – The injured area is kept raised above the heart level at all times to drain away the collected fluid.
Additionally, the injured athlete also has to avoid heat, alcohol, running, and massage to avoid harm.
- Paramedics have experience dealing with different types of injuries – Injuries apart from strains or sprains need to be treated differently. For instance, when athletes suffer from a fracture, the injured area must be elevated and immobilised to keep them as still as possible. Sometimes, patients can become unresponsive, and CPR needs to be performed as well.
Similarly, the joints should be immobilised when athletes suffer from a dislocation in their shoulder. This is necessary to protect the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and blood vessels.
- Paramedics can offer advanced medical support – Paramedics can offer advanced medical support since they have access to full medical suites with ultrasound and X-ray equipment. They also have all the essential items including an automated external defibrillator (AED) in case of emergency.
Conclusion
Dr. Richard Nahas suggests you don’t ignore the aid of paramedics and other medical professionals when organizing any type of sports event. Injuries during sporting events can happen at any time even when the necessary precautions are taken to minimize the risk of injuries. If injuries are not treated swiftly, they can end their careers and risk the lives of professional athletes. That’s why proper first aid for athletes is crucial when they get injured.
