NATA releases updated guidelines for emergency prehospital care of football spine injuries
As the U.S. prepares for the return of sports, the National Athletic Trainer’s Association has released updated recommendations for athlete safety and emergency prehospital care of cervical spine injuries in American football.
NATA’s guidelines involved 25 healthcare professionals across the athletic training, emergency and sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, neurology and physiatry fields, according to the press release.
The recommendations include protocol for helmet and shoulder pad removal, spine board usage, transportation and trainer intervention, according to the release.
“When an athlete is suspected to have a spine injury, every moment and every movement counts,” NATA President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC, said in the release. “It is imperative that no matter the level of play, from peewee to professional, there is a healthcare professional, such as an athletic trainer, who creates venue-specific action plans, leads medical time outs and establishes relationships with allied medical professionals to ensure the best possible outcome for the athlete,” he added.
References:
- Courson R, et al. J Athl Train. 2020;doi:10.4085/1062-6050-430-19.
- Mills BM, et al. J Athl Train. 2020;doi:10.4085/1062-6050-0434.19.
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