Anaphylactic Reaction

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction to a food or environmental stimulant.  The most common stimulants in Canada are peanut, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, sesame seeds, soy and wheat.  Insect stings such as yellow jackets, hornets, wasps and honey bees are can also trigger an anaphylactic reaction.  Medications as well as rubber latex can also trigger a reaction. 

Signs and symptoms of a anaphylactic reaction can be categorized into five categories:

• Skin system: hives, swelling, itching, warmth, redness, rash
• Respiratory system (breathing): coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness, throat tightness, hoarse voice, nasal congestion or hay fever-like symptoms (runny itchy nose and watery eyes, sneezing), trouble swallowing
• Gastrointestinal system (stomach): nausea, pain/cramps, vomiting, diarrhea
• Cardiovascular system (heart): pale/blue colour, weak pulse, passing out, dizzy/lightheaded, shock
• Other: anxiety, feeling of “impending doom”, headache, uterine cramps, metallic taste

Any sign or symptom should be dealt with immediately as the severity can change rapidly.  Every athlete with severe allergies should have an emergency plan.  Included in this plan should be knowledge of past reactions, location of epinephrine auto injector.  Anaphylaxis policy changes depends on your province and school board, it is important to check what is allowed or not allowed in your jurisdiction.  

In North America there available auto-injectors include Twin Jet, Epipen and Allerject.  The amount of epinephrine comes in two dosage strengths and is based upon weight.  Consultation with your physician and pharmacist as to the appropriate dosage.  

The management plan for an anaphylactic reaction:

1) Give epinephrine auto-injector at first sign of reaction

2) Call 9-1-1

3) Administer second dose of epinephrine if available

Having a well planned out plan for any emergency is important, knowing what to do when that emergency is an anaphylactic reaction is the difference between life and death. 

Please follow us on Twitter @EliteInjuryMgmt and check out our website at www.eliteinjury.com 

Athletic Therapists/Trainers in Action

With the events of Monday March 10, this post will show either Athletic Therapists or Athletic Trainers at work.

Richard Zednik, throat laceration on February 10, 2008.  Assistant Athletic Trainer Dave Zenobi

Rich Peverley suffers a cardiac event on March 10, 2014.  Athletic Trainers Dave Zeis and Craig Lowry.  This article form Bleacher Report describes the emergency treatment he received.

Freddy Meyer collapses at centre ice on February 3, 2011.  Athletic Trainer Tommy Alva was first on the ice.

Alex Cobb, pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays is hit by a pitch.  Head Athletic Trainer Ron Porterfield does an amazing job of dealing with Cobb and keeping the scene clear.  Shout out to the Kansas City staff for assisting on the field.

As you can see having an Athletic Therapist or Athletic Trainer on your bench or sidelines can save a life.  ATs are not just for professional athletes.  To ensure the safety of all athletes please push your organizations, leagues and teams to have Athletic Therapists and Athletic Trainers there.  Not all teams can have team physicians and as you have seen the physicians are not the first on site.  It does not matter the sport or the level injuries happen and someone needs to be prepared and trained to deal with minor muscle injuries to severe ones such as a spinal cord injuries.

For more information on Athletic Therapists please visit www.athletictherapy.org and for Athletic Trainers www.nata.org

Please follow us on Twitter @EliteInjuryMgmt and for more information on Elite Injury Management and the services we offer including on site coverage at www.eliteinjury.com 

What is an Athletic Therapist?

I am pretty sure when I told my parents I was going to be an Athletic Therapist my dad had a heart attack.  He had no clue what it was but was pretty sure he didn't want his baby girl being one.  Since that moment I have spent a major part of my life explaining what it is I do and what an Athletic Therapist is, even to those who think they know.

So what is an Athletic Therapist?  Well we are health care professionals who are trained in the areas prevention, immediate care and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries.  We work with athletes from the young hockey player and the weekend warrior to the professional and Olympic level athletes.  No matter the level or sport we are there.  Be it at the rink, field, court, studio, gym or clinic we want to support athletes in achieving their goals.  Not only do we treat athletes we can work with general public helping them overcome injuries that they receive either at work or home.

So what do we do?  Everything.  We can help with equipment, tape any joint you prefer, assess your injury on site and rehab you from there to return to play.  We are the first ones there and the last ones to leave.  The best analogy I have heard to describe us is "mom".  We know when our athletes are hurt before they do, if they are having a bad day and how to fix it.

My daughter says I fix football players owies by putting bandaids on them.  My husband laughs because I love the smell of a hockey rink.  I can fix anything with a roll of athletic tape, and hate being called "trainer".  I have slept on treatment tables, numerous buses and even bags of equipment.  The long hours, endless bus rides are worth it.  Being able make a difference in my athletes lives is worth it, because that is what we do.  

For more information on what Certified Athletic Therapists can do please check out www.eliteinjury.com and www.athletictherapy.org.