| WHAT COACHES SHOULD KNOW |
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Facemasks and mouthguards are especially important for protecting delicate areas on the face. Without them, accidents can occur causing damage to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Players and coaches should take every precaution to prevent injuries to the face.
If serious facial injuries do occur, activate the Emergency Action Plan and follow the emergency action steps, Check-Call-Care. Check the scene for safety and check the athlete, Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number when needed, and Care for the injured player until EMS personnel arrive. When caring for injuries to the face, responders should also take precautions against disease transmission by wearing latex or vinyl gloves.
There are several areas on the face where injuries commonly occur. These include the nose, cheeks, lips, and eyes.
When dealing with a nosebleed, control the bleeding by leaning the player forward while pinching the nostrils for 10 minutes, or by putting ice on the bridge of the nose. Once the bleeding is controlled, the player should avoid rubbing or blowing his nose. If the nasal injury occurred from a hard impact, seek prompt medical attention to evaluate for a fracture.
The primary concern with an injured cheek and lip is keeping the airway open and preventing the person from swallowing any blood, which induces vomiting. Seat the player forward to keep the blood from draining to the throat. If an object is embedded in the cheek, the coach or responder should remove it unless it is too painful for the injured player. (It is important to note that this is the only situation in which an embedded object should be removed from the body.) Control the bleeding by placing a dressing on the wound and apply a pressure bandage around the head to hold the dressing in place. For an injury to the lip, place a dressing between the lip and the gum. For an injury to the tongue or gums, control the bleeding with direct pressure. Seek prompt medical attention if the injury appears serious.
Teeth may be knocked out in any injury involving the mouth or head. After checking for other injuries, preserve the tooth for possible reimplantation. Have the athlete bite down on a rolled sterile dressing in the space left by the tooth. Save any displaced teeth by picking them up by the crown (white part) and not the root. Place the teeth in milk, if possible, or water, and call a dentist immediately for further instruction.
Damage to the eyes can most significantly effect the player's quality of life. Usually eye injuries in football are caused when an opponent's fingers or other objects are pushed through a facemask. The first thing to remember in this situation is not to put direct pressure on the eye. Instead, place the injured player on his or her back. When an object such as a stick is imbedded in the eye, do not remove the object. Keep the object stable by placing several dressings around it, then put a dressing over the unaffected eye to keep it clean. Activate the Emergency Action Plan. If a small foreign body is in the eye, have the athlete blink several times to try to remove it. Gently flush the eye with water. If the object remains, seek medical attention. If a chemical enters the eye, flush with water for 10 minutes in a direction away from the uninjured eye and activate the Emergency Action Plan.
In each scenario, the coach or responder should care for the injured player by keeping the person calm and treating the injury. For all serious injuries to the face, call for prompt medical assistance after giving care. Injuries to the face are serious and need to be treated immediately.
MORE READING
American National Red Cross. (2001). Emergency response. San Bruno, CA: StayWell.
Petersmarck, K. (1998). The prevention of injuries in amateur football. Michigan Department of Community Health.
The evaluation of any athlete, whether as a part of health evaluations prior to activity or as a diagnosis of an injury as the consequence of sports activities, is specific to that individual and the history and current state of the individual presented. Advice, diagnosis and treatment is individualized according to numerous factors, including patient health and age information, medical history and symptoms. All athletes should be cleared by a physician or other appropriate medical professional before engaging in physical activities and, after injury, diagnosis and treatment, for return to play.