The State of Medical Care in Organized Sports
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Dr
Isrel & Lemuel Lyons
The old cliché says that we should hope for the best and prepare for the worst. For this reason there are fire hydrants on sidewalks, fire extinguishers in restaurants and life boats on cruise ships. Not because these items contribute aesthetically to their immediate surroundings but they are necessities in the event of an emergency. With sport being a microcosm of society, it is evident that accidents and medical emergencies occur at sporting events. The issue at hand is how effectively and efficiently these emergencies are dealt with and what is being done to improve them.
Within the last couple months two athletes fatally succumbed to cardiac related injuries in our country. Defence Force midfielder Kevon Carter collapsed at training in Chagauramas after complaining of chest pains while teenage Jamaican cross country athlete Cavahn Mc Kenzie collapsed at the end of a 6 kilometer race in Tobago. Although a heart attack cannot be predicted, if CPR along with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is administered an athlete is more likely to survive.
According to the American Red Cross website an AED is a medical device that analyzes the hearts rhythm. If necessary, it delivers an electrical shock, known as defibrillation, which helps the heart re-
Currently there is no mandate by the TTProleague that teams must have an AED present at all training sessions. Legislation should be brought to Parliament to ensure that all teams or clubs in every sport should have a fully functional AED with staff trained to use it. This goes to teams at the professional, amateur, and primary and secondary school levels. The possible legal or public relation ramifications a team can potentially face should be an afterthought compared to the value of a human life. Most football, cricket and Track and Field clubs currently do not administer medical exams so players or athletes man not be aware of their health as it pertains to playing the sport at a certain level. If both club and player are aware of the players’ health then informed decisions can be made to protect both parties.
Last year the NFL (National Football League) reached a settlement of $765 million for concussion related brain injuries that awarded former players who suffered from dementia, Alzheimer’s and depression. Local leagues and clubs do not generate near the amount of revenue that the NFL does and therefore any legal action taken by players can seriously cripple the leagues and or clubs.
According to Dr Dev K. Mishra founder of Sideline Sports Doc, an injury affects everyone. An injured athlete with a significant injury has an impact in many different areas. The young athlete, did a minor injury turn into a major injury with many weeks or even months needed to recover? The young athlete has the most at risk. The parents, no one is in a better position to advocate for the health of the young athlete than a parent. Can an injury be managed properly from the start so that there's a better chance that the young athlete can play in the important game? The team, with a minor injury the team might be without the injured player for a few days, a week, maybe a few weeks. But can you be without a player for months or forever? The club or league, effective on-
It is imperative that the health and wellbeing of local sportsmen and sportswomen become a priority to the relevant administrators in Trinidad and Tobago. While it is promising to see that state of the art facilities are being constructed, it would be an absolute shame if medical care is substandard especially at international meets or sporting events.
References
Associated Press. “NFL, ex-
Redcross.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/workplace/easy-
Mishra, Dev K., M.D. N.p.,n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.www.sidelinesportsdoc.com/sidelinesportsdoc/t-
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