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This guide, authored by Dr. M. Bruce Carter, MD, provides rugby referees with crucial insights on handling player injuries to ensure safety on the field. It covers essential protocols, including understanding serious injuries, assessing concussion risks, and the duty of care. Referees will learn the importance of maintaining a "neutral" position, calling for professional help, and stabilizing injured players. Emphasizing communication and teamwork, this resource aims to empower referees to make informed decisions while keeping the game safe.
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DEALING WITH INJURIES A Guide for Rugby Referees
KEEPING THE GAME SAFE M. Bruce Carter, MD December 4, 2007
Good Samaritans with Whistles • Duty of Care? • Level of expertise/training • Help may be refused • Implied consent • Don’t stop once you start • No obligation to incur risk
Pre-existing Arrangements • Ask ahead of time • Assume anyone responding to an injury is qualified (until further notice) • Cell phones are everywhere
Primum non nocere • Don’t make it worse • Don’t let someone else make it worse • This includes the injured person
What is Serious? • Bleeding • Inordinate pain – blow the whistle • Unexplained sensations • Life or limb • Obvious deformity • Loss of consciousness
Stabilize the Situation • Whistle • Full attention • Eliminate further danger • Minimize movement of affected part/person • ‘Neutral’ position • Comfort, hydration, shade/warmth
Call For Help • Qualified folks on scene • If you think about it – activate the EMS
If In Doubt – Don’t • Don’t move an injured person if it might make them worse • Don’t take any action for which you have no good reason
The ABCs • Airway • Breathing • Circulation • Disability/Damage (neurological), Depth of Consciousness • Everything Else
Head Injuries • This is how rugby players die • Bloody noses, black eyes, dangerous tackles, scrums and ‘normal’ tackles • Fortunately, this allows for preventive care
Guidance from the IRB • “A player who is suffering definite concussion should not participate in any match or training session for a period of at least three weeks from the time of injury, and then only subject to being cleared by a proper neurological examination.”
Concussion Defined • A period of altered consciousness in response to a head injury • What the IRB calls ‘definite concussion’ is what physicians call a Grade 3 concussion
The Key Question - PEARL • HOW DID YOU GET TO THE GAME TODAY?
Grades of Concussionwww.aan.com • Grade 1: ‘Bell rung’ – NO LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS – back to normal within 5 minutes • Grade 2: NO LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS – Not back to normal, feels ‘off’, after 5 minutes • Grade 3: ANY loss of consciousness
Treatment for Grade 1 • Back to normal within 5 minutes • Rest and observation for 15 minutes • No further symptoms: okay to participate • Second Grade 1 = Grade 3
Treatment for Grade 2 • Still not completely back to normal after 5 minutes • No further strenuous activity for 1 week, subject to professional examination and clearance
Treatment for Grade 3 • This is what the IRB refers to as ‘definite concussion’ • “I think I was out for a second” – no further activity. IRB Guidance applies – 3 weeks’ rest, professional evaluation • Unconscious for more than one or two minutes – activate EMS • Seizure activity – activate EMS
Preventive Treatment • Do not let concussed players continue to play • Inform coaches/teammates/friends/family of your concerns and recommendations • Rugby players look out for their mates better than they do for themselves
SUMMARY • RUGBY IS ONLY A GAME • Safety is part of our charge • You care or you wouldn’t be there • You’re intelligent or you wouldn’t be there • The Law and the law are on your side • Ask for help and trust the helpers • “Preserve the fighting strength”