Significant medical and orthopaedic emergencies are relatively rare in a football environment. They do, however, occur and clinicians and event organisers must be prepared to manage these conditions. An awareness of the more common conditions and a plan to manage these appropriately is essential.
Medical emergencies should always be managed along the lines of existing protocols, with attention to the patient’s airway, breathing and circulation. The management of some of these conditions in a football context requires specific protocols.
The management of cardiac conditions, including sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), are not considered in this module. To learn more about these conditions please review the cardiology and SCA modules. The management of hypoglycaemia (diabetes module) and asthma (respiratory module) are also not specifically addressed in this module. The team care and event management modules also review how one might prepare to manage a medical emergency involving a player, spectator or official.