PROCEDURE:

CARE OF A SWIMMER OR *OTHER WHO RECEIVES A BUMP / BLOW / KNOCK TO THE HEAD (HEAD INJURY) DURING ANY ‘PHOENIX’ ACTIVITY.

(*Other meaning: Club Members, Swimming Coaches, Swimming Teachers, Club Helpers and all others who belongs to the Colchester Phoenix Amateur Swimming Club. For this Procedure the word ‘Swimmer’ will be used to cover all the above.)

Introduction

· All head injuries are potentially serious and require proper assessment because they can result in impaired consciousness. Injuries may be associated with damage to the brain tissue or to blood vessels inside the skull, or with a skull fracture.

A head wound should alert you to the risk of deeper, underlying damage, such as a skull fracture, which may be serious. Bleeding inside the skull may also occur and lead to compression. Clear fluid or watery blood leaking from the ear or nose are signs of serious injury.

The brain is free to move a little within the skull, and can thus be 'shaken' by a blow to the head. This shaking is called concussion.

Recognition

· Brief period of impaired consciousness following a blow to the head.

There may also be:

Dizziness or nausea (feeling sick) on recovery.

Loss of memory of events at the time of, or immediately preceding, the injury.

Mild, generalised headache.

What to do

· In a Swimming Pool environment it is not uncommon for swimmers ‘to come head to head’ in a lane, or knock / bang their heads at the ends of the pool when swimming backstroke. This happening, does not always mean they will have concussion. But of course we must all be aware of the possible implications as above.

Take the appropriate action (EAP) by:

· Tell the swimmer(s) to come to the side of the pool and get out of the pool

· Alert the Venue / Pool Staff of what has happened

· Tell the swimmer(s) to sit down, talk to them – reassure – TLC. (*Do not lay them down flat at this point)

· Assist the Venue / Pool Staff (where applicable) with the care of Swimmer(s)

· Obtain further medical aid if necessary

Once the swimmer has recovered:

· Do not allow the swimmer back into the water. (Remember a Head Injury can be un-noticed for anything up to 72hrs after the injury has accrued!)

· Inform the parent(s) / Carer(s) / Next of Kin of the incident and ask them to come and collect their son / daughter / ward

· Inform the Swimmer(s) / Parent(s) / Carer(s) / Guardian(s) of the procedure / care of a ‘Post Head Injury’

· Ensure the Swimmer(s) / Parent(s) / Carer(s) / Guardian(s) are given the ‘Post Head Injury Advice Card’ (this must be documented in the Colchester Phoenix ASC Accident / Incident folder (EAP)

· Document the incident (Head Injury) in the Colchester Phoenix ASC Accident / Incident folder (EAP)

· Assist the Venue / Pool Staff with completing their Accident / Incident form (EAP)

*Warning: if the swimmer’s condition deteriorates i.e. level of response / consciousness/stops breathing, *lay the swimmer down perform full CPR. An Emergency Ambulance must be called. (Dial 999)