PRIMARY & SECONDARY ASSESSMENT
The primary assessment refers to the initial evaluation of an athlete or patient. This may take place on the field, court, ice rink, (etc.) of a sporting event immediately following an injury. This is a crucial time for a prompt assessment of an injury to assure the athlete receives appropriate care whether it be immediate treatment or referral. Another possible setting for an initial evaluation could be a healthcare facility. The most efficient of them being the emergency room at a local hospital if the severity of injury calls for such care.
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http://www.bridgepointchiro.com/services_sports.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-1357156/IRB-discuss-new-regulations-treatment-head-injuries.html
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There
are strict procedures to follow regarding the primary assessment of an
injury. Depending on the severity (whether or not vital organs are
compromised for example), the steps taken in this assessment may vary.
Although the information provided on this site will focus more
specifically on the thigh/knee region, immediate care requires
evaluating many different aspects pertaining to human survival. No matter the case, always assure that the scene is safe and that necessary protective wear is applied. The tabs
below will provide detailed explanations of the protocol to be followed
for each component in the primary assessment (in order from left to
right).
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(Starkey, Brown, and Ryan 2010)