Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4

Physical Education
and Sports Sciences

17
ATHLETIC INJURIES, FIRST AID AND
SAFETY Note

Read a conversation between Ram and his PE Teacher, held at school sports
field
Ram : Sir! When we get injured while playing, what are we suppose to do in
emergency?
Sir : We should focus on First Aid which can be provided to the injured person.
Ram : What is First Aid? And how is it given to the injured?
This made the teacher to think about the need to provide knowledge about First
Aid to the school students, so that they can help each other during emergency
cases and also help themselves better. In this Lesson you will read about the
Athletic injuries, concepts of First Aid, how to prevent injuries and also about
safety measures at school, home, road and sports field.

OBJECTIVES

After reading this lesson, you will be able to:

classify the different types of injuries in sports;
learn about the treatment of injuries;
comprehend the principles of First Aid;
apply preventive and safety measures to avoid injuries in sports field and
outside and
discuss the safety precautions.

17.1 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPORTS INJURIES

You all know that participating in physical activity, sports, exercise and
recreational programs are enjoyable but they are also prone to injuries if not
taken care of. We need to learn that injuries are unavoidable in sports, therefore,
the focus must be on injury management and rehabilitation and care of the injured.
You will enjoy learning about the occurrence of injuries and their management.
Physical Education and Yog
41
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
Injury occurs when force exceeds the limit of tissue due to which there is damage
to cells and blood vessels. Injury may occur due to any stretch or blow on the
muscles leading to soft tissue injuries like strain or sprain. Damage to cell is
called as cell necrosis due to which it cannot transport oxygen, nutrients and
waste, leading to necrosis around the area of impact and further leading oedema.
Blood vessel damage due to injury causes decrease in blood flow and coagulation
(clotting).
Note 17.1.1 Types of Injury
Its important to detail the different types or classification of injuries in sports on
the basis of its nature and location.
Types of Injuries
Soft Tissue Injury Bone Injury Joint injury
Close Fracture Open Fracture Dislocation
Contusion Transverse Fracture Compound Subluxation
Abrasion Oblique Fracture Fracture Luxation
Incision Spiral Fracture
Laceration Comminute Fracture
Strain Impact Fracture
Sprain Green Stick Fracture

17.1.2 SOFT TISSUE INJURY

Contusion: Direct impact with blunt object which causes bleeding deep with
muscles due to damage in capillaries. Wound look like bluish in color due to
torn blood vessels

Abrasion: Loss of epidermis (Outer layer of the skin) superficial injury with
loss of skin. Person feels burning sensation.

Physical Education and Yog

42
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
Incision: Cut on arteries, tendon, veins, nerves due to sharp objects

Note

Laceration : Irregular tear in skin, cut in epidermis and dermis with blunt edge
objects. An individual feel severe pain and redness beyond the wound edges.

Strain :Overstretching and tearing of muscle units is known as strain. Symptoms

inclues localized inflammation, severe pain etc.
i. Grade I: Mild – slightly pulled
ii. Grade II: Moderate- Tear of fibre
iii. Grade III: Sever – Rupture of muscle

Jumper’s knee Quadriceps

Cross-section of muscle
knee in flexion
Patellar
Femur (knee cap)
(thigh bone)

Patellar
Tibia tendinitis
(shinbone) Patellar
tendon
Physical Education and Yog
43
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
Stretched tendon

Torn
ligament Stretched muscle

Note

Misaligned joint

Sprain:Overstretching and tearing of ligaments is known as sprain. Symptoms

inclues Pain, Tenderness, Loss of Function
i. Grade I: Stretching or minor tear of one or more ligaments
ii. Grade II: Partial tearing resulting in weakness or some loss of function
iii. Grade III: Extensive tearing or complete rupture of ligaments generally
require surgery.

Muscles

Tendons

Patella ligament
Knee cap
(patella)

Bursae
Cruciate
ligaments

Lateral collateral
ligament
Medial collateral
ligament

Physical Education and Yog

44
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences

Note

Ankle Swelling, inflammation,

sprain and bruising of ankle

Damage to
ligaments
of the ankle

17.1.3 BONE INJURY

Fracture: It is a complete or incomplete break in a bone or discontinuation of
bone resulting from the application of excessive force
a. Close Fracture: A closed fracture is when the bone breaks but there is no
puncture or open wound in the skin
i. Transverse Fracture: Broken at right angle to long axis of bone.
Transverse fractures of long bones are usually the result of direct
impacts, and thus are more common in older children after sports
injuries.
Physical Education and Yog
45
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
ii. Oblique Fracture: A fracture in which the line of break runs in oblique
direction to long axis confined to one plane. It is a slanted fracture of
the shaft along the bone’s long axis.
iii. Spiral Fracture: Occur when one end of an extremity is fixed (e.g., a
foot is planted on the floor) but the rest of the extremity remains in
motion.
iv. Comminute Fracture: A fracture in which the bone has broken or
Note fragmented into several pieces. It happens mostly due to crush.
v. Impact Fracture: An impacted fracture is one whose ends are driven
into each other. This is commonly seen in arm fractures in children
and is sometimes known as a buckle fracture
vi. Green Stick Fracture: An incomplete fracture in which the bone is
bent, it occurs most often in children in which the bone bends and
partially breaks
b. Open Fracture: An open fracture is one in which the bone breaks through
the skin.
i. Compound Fracture:is an injury that occurs when there is a break in
the skin around a broken bone. In order for an injury to be classified
as a compound fracture, the outside air (and dirt and bacteria) must be
able to get to the fracture site without a barrier of skin or soft-tissue.
Therefore, a bone does not need to be through the skin in order for the
injury to be called a compound fracture.

Types of Fractures
Simple Compound Greenstick Comminuted Impacted

Physical Education and Yog

46
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
17.1.4 JOINT INJURY
a. Dislocation: When bones shifted their place from normal position, do not
meet properly at the joint is known as dislocation. It can be divided into
two types :

i. Subluxation: There is partial dislocation in joints where slight displacement

of bones takes place.

ii. Luxation: There is complete dislocation where bones completely separate Note
from each other

17.2 TREATMENT FOR SIMPLE SPORT INJURIES

There are four steps to be taken care of common sports injuries.The process is
known as R I C E which consists of foursteps. This process should be started as
soon as an injury occurs.In RICE, Rstands for REST,I stands for ICE, C stands
for COMPRESSION, and E stands for ELEVATION.

Rest

An individual should immediately stop the activity as soon as an injury occurs.

Delay may further damage the injured part. Rest must be taken until injured part
gets fully recovered.

Ice

Ice or cold water should be put on to the injured part as soon as possible to
control swelling. It will help to decreases muscle spasm and also decreases of
pain. Cold water or ice should be applied for 20-30 minutes after gap of 2-3
hours till 48 -72 hours.

Compression

Compression helps to limit and decrease swelling in the injured area. It should
be applied with cold treatment. Compression can be done through elastic wrap
of tape or belt but should not too tight to stop circulation, or too loose to allow
further swelling.

Elevation

Last step of the process is to elevate the injured part. During the process support
should be placed under the entire limb. The height should be enough that high
above from the heart.

Physical Education and Yog

47
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
The process of RICE should be continued for at least 48-72 hours. Any form of
heat should not be applied under any circumstances, during this time otherwise
it will leads to swelling and inflammation. In the process of optimal healing
proper nutrition, good amount of sleep and a positive attitude is required.

DO YOU KNOW?
Note
Cartilages: fibrous connective tissue placed over ends of the bones that
allow smooth movement, absorb impacts. Any tear or break of cartilages
is cartilages injuries.
Bursae: they are small sacs of fluid within joint to reduce friction. Bursitis
occurs due to infection or overuse.
Ligaments: connective tissues that connect one bone to another bone is
known as ligaments. Any tear or stretch of ligament known as sprain.
Tendons: connective tissues that connect muscle to bone known as tendons.
Rupture or strained on tendons known as tendonitis.

ACTIVITY 17.1

Make a list of common injuries occurring in your favourite sport.

INTEXT QUESTION 17.1

1. Muscular tendon injury is known as

......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
2. Injury to ligament is called as
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
3. Discontinuation of the bone due to impact, causing breakage of bone is
called as?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
4. Damage to cell causing death is called as
......................................................................................................................
Physical Education and Yog
48
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
......................................................................................................................
5. Outer layer of skin is known as
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................

17.3 FIRST AID

It is the immediate assistance given to the person suffering from sudden injury Note
or illness. The objective of first aid is to provide immediate care to the injured or
ill person to preserve life and protect casualty from further harm before he reach
to competent and qualified medical person or medical institution. First aid must
be given by the first aider only, otherwise results may be adverse.
First aid box
It is a handy box which contains following items by the first aider:
Bandages
Antiseptics
Cotton balls and swabs
Saline
Hydrogen peroxide
Iodine
Dressings
Eye wash
Disposable gloves
Scissors
Adhesive Bandages
Thermometer

ACTIVITY 17.2

Prepare a First Aid Box with essential items required and stick a list of items
along with its expiry date on the top of the box.

Physical Education and Yog

49
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
17.3.1 Principles of First Aid
Read aloud the following principles of first aid :-

Immediate action

First step is to form the action plan immediately, first aider must be quick, quiet
and without panic.
Note
Calling for medical assistance

First aider should inform nearest medical unit with fastest possible means of
communication. Patient can be transferred to the ambulance and can come off
the place of injury or illness.

Medical alert devices

Individual having prolonged disease sometime take alert devices in which their
history of disease or injury including specialist medical contact is mentioned.

Reassurance and mental health

Psychological values of reassurance are equal as treatment. Some individual go

into shock and make situation more worsen. First aider should reassure them in
order to reduce tension.

Your response to an emergency

There are different types of emergencies in which individuals react differently.

Sometime their response of disaster or injury may result in crying, fear, anxiety
etc. it may last for weeks. By talking positive approach it can help to cope with
injury.

Common causes of injuries

There are number of common risk factors that can lead to Athletic injuries.
1. Lack of Warming up and Cooling down.
2. Overtraining or Excessive loading on the body
3. Non safety precautions
4. An accident
5. Inappropriate equipment

Physical Education and Yog

50
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
6. Poor exercise techniques
7. Muscle weakness or imbalance
8. Joint laxity
9. Incomplete Calcification
10. Aging
Note

INTEXT QUESTION 17.2

1. Mark the following as True/False.

a. First aid must be given by the trained first aider only
b. PRICE is not important in sports injury recovery
c. Warming-Up is not a reason for injury during sports participation
d. It is essential to be hydrated to prevent injury
f. Safety equipment are essential in sports to prevent injury.

17.4 PREVENTION OF SPORTS INJURY

Basic physical fitness

General fitness is important before indulging in any kind of activity. Bones and
muscles must be strong enough to perform the activity effectively without
having fatigue.
Equipment
The equipment must be carefully chosen to meet the demand of sport. The safety
and technical equipment must be double checked in terms of quality before use.
Comfortable and appropriate equipment is the prerequisite for any leisure and
performance oriented activity.
Health
If somebody has suffered from infection or cold or other kind of disease, then he
should not be involve in any physical activity. After suffering from disease, the
body becomes weak the response from body goes slow, the chances of injury
increase.

Physical Education and Yog

51
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
Warming up and cooling down

Before any type of physical activity an individual must do warming up with a

purpose to increase temperature, mobility of muscles and mental preparedness.
After activity, cooling down must be done to lowering down the temperature of
the body and further stretch the muscles to prevent injuries.

Systematic and scientific training

Note
Systematic and scientific training is important to bring effective training results.
Training schedule should be prepared by the competent person.Unscientific
training leads to injuries.

Safety measures

All the protective gears must be carefully checked. Surface of playing area,
equipment, first aid, rule and regulations should be strictly followed.

Psychological considerations

Before and after activity psychological training is required. Mental readiness,

alertness, confidence, make up of mind, memory etc. are the factors to be
addressed before training to reduce injuries.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.3

Match the following

A B
1. P in PRICE stands for i. Thermotherapy
2. Wax Bath ii. Prevention
3. Ice Pack iii. Cryotherapy
4. E in PRICE stands for iv. Safety Equipment
5. Helmet v. Elevation

17.5 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

School Safety: “School Safety” has been defined as creating safe environment
for children, starting from their homes to their schools and back. This includes
safety from any kind of abuse, violence, psycho-social issue, disaster: natural
and manmade, fire, transportation (NCPCR, 2017)
Physical Education and Yog
52
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
School Sports Injury Prevention:

1. Know and abide by the rules of the sport. Kids should also be instructed
in how to use the sport’s athletic equipment properly.

2. Avoid playing when very tired or in pain. Children should take a break
immediately if in pain.

3. Keep kids hydrated. Make sure there is adequate water or other liquids to Note
maintain proper hydration. Kids need to drink 8 ounces of fluid every 20
minutes, plus more after playing.

4. Wear appropriate protective gear, such as shin guards for soccer, a hard-
shell helmet when facing a baseball or softball pitcher, a helmet and body
padding for ice hockey. Make sure your child uses the proper protective
gear for a particular sport. This may lessen the chances of being injured.

5. Make sure the coach is certified. Enrol your child in organized sports
through schools, community clubs, and recreation areas where there may
be adults who are certified coaches. Ask about the coach’s background and
training.

6. Get a pre-season physical examination. Kids should have a thorough

exam from a physician before participating in sports, including a
cardiovascular workup to make sure there are no pre-existing conditions.

7. Insist on a team emergency plan. What happens if a child is injured?

Where’s the first-aid kit? Who drives to the hospital? Make sure any injured
child sees a doctor right away.

DO YOU KNOW?

Supreme Courts Directive on School Safety Norms in India in a significant

ruling, the Supreme Court ordered that no new government or private school
would be given affiliation if the building did not have fire safety measures
and earthquake resistant structure. Pained by the heart-rending death of 93
children in a fire at a Kumbakonam school in Tamil Nadu five years ago, a
Bench comprising Justice H Dalveer Bhandari S Bedi said, “Children cannot
be compelled to receive education from an unsound and unsafe building.”
Referring to painful incidents involving death of school children due to fire
in Kumbakonam as well as Dabwali in Haryana in 1995, the Bench said,

Physical Education and Yog

53
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
“It has become imperative that safety measures as prescribed by the National
Building Code of India, 2005, be implemented by all government and private
schools functioning in our country.” The other directions to all state
governments are:
All existing government and private schools shall install fire
extinguishing equipment within a period of six months
Note School buildings are to be kept free from inflammable and toxic material
or stored safely
Evaluation of structural aspect of the school building must be carried
out periodically
School staff must be well-trained to use the fire-extinguishing
equipment
source: http://indiankanoon.org/doc/232115

INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.4

1. Mark the following as True or False

a. Qualified and certified coaches are essential for safety of
players ( )
b. Equipments should be tested regularly ( )
c. Medical report of student before physical exercise or sports
participation is essential ( )
d. Over exertion of activity should be avoided during school sports
activity ( )
e. Abide by rules of sports is essential for injury prevention ( )

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT

Injury occurs when force exceeds the limit of tissue due to which there is
damage to cells and blood vessels.

Injury may occur due to any stretch or blow on the muscles leading to soft
tissue injuries like strain or sprain

The objective of first aid is to provide immediate care to the injured or ill
person to preserve life and protect casualty from further harm

Physical Education and Yog

54
 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety MODULE-4
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
First aider should inform nearest medical unit with fastest possible means
of communication. Patient can be transferred to the ambulance and can
come off the place of injury or illness

General fitness is important before indulging in any kind of activity.

School Safety” has been defined as creating safe environment for children,
starting from their homes to their schools and back.
Note

TERMINAL QUESITONS

1. Describe sports injury and its classifications.

2. Explain the principles of FIRST AID.
3. Describe PRICE protocol.
4. How can we prevent sports injury among children?
5. Detail the points for Safety of children at school during sports.

ANSWERS TO INTEXT QUESTIONS

17.1
1. Strain
2. Sprain
3. Fracture
4. Cell Necrosis
5. Epidermis

17.2
a. True
b. False
c. False
d. True
e. True

Physical Education and Yog

55
MODULE-4 Athletic Injuries, First aid and Safety
Physical Education
and Sports Sciences
17.3
1. Prevention - (ii)
2. Thermotherapy - (i)
3. Cryotherapy - (iii)
4. Elevation - (v)
Note 5. Safety Equipment - (iv)

17.4
a. True
b. True
c. True
d. False
e. False

Physical Education and Yog

56