NOTICE OF MOTION ready.
ABM 25-Jun-2018
WHAT'S THE ISSUE?
There's a new Head Trauma Procedure Appendix (as distributed for the February Delegates meeting.)
DISCUSSION
It's shorter and more direct than the old one. See Appendix D in the Saturday Playing Regulations. https://tinyurl.com/ybcyecp4
This is a policy from CA and the motivation for it is player safety/injury prevention/proper treatment of concussion.
Concussion and head trauma, along with the associated potential long-term consequences, are a significant issue in the majority of sports, including cricket.
Diagnosis of concussion and potential brain injury is **very** difficult to diagnose even for Doctors. Minor knocks can lead to major brain injury in unpredictable ways. Even medical professionals find this difficult to get right. This article summarizes the risks https://tinyurl.com/yaezsmde
The danger is if we allow head injured players to carry on when they are incapable of clear decisions, the association, the clubs and the captains open ourselves up to both legal action for negligence (for instance) and the risk of allowing minor trauma to develop into major injury. (i.e. a simple knock on the head could end up as brain injury or even death.)
I believe modification or rejection of the policy would risk dis-affiliation with Queensland Cricket or Cricket Australia AND an unfavorable increase in player insurance premiums.
In my opinion, this procedure implies that there should be a report form for injury reports (TBD) and some scheme for obligatory reporting of injuries at matches. Just like at work....
A head injury trauma policy of some sort has been in place since 2016. In that time NO reports of serious head injury have been received by the Management Committee.
That might mean this is not a real big problem.
But as Benny Hill once said:
“Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect”
This new should be read in the context of Appendix K Playing Condition - Helmets also.That policy remains in force.
PROPOSAL
Here's the new version. This will replace the existing Appendix D. In practice it has been de facto in force since mid last season.
Appendix D COMMUNITY CRICKET CONCUSSION & HEAD TRAUMA GUIDELINES
Version 1.0
Date last reviewed: 01 August 2017
Review frequency: Annual
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 Community Cricket representatives and participants should take a conservative approach to managing concussion.
1.2 Participants in Community Cricket should wear appropriate and well fitted protective gear including helmets.
1.3 Any player or official that has a suspected concussion should:
1.3.1 be immediately removed from the training and playing environment;
1.3.2 not return on the same day without medical clearance; and
1.3.3 be assessed by a qualified medical officer.
1.4 Any player or official with a confirmed concussion should:
1.4.1 not return to play or train on the same day; and
1.4.2 only return to play or train once cleared by a qualified medical officer.
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 Australian Cricket considers it critical to pursue best practice in prevention and management of concussion and head trauma arising in the course of participating in organised cricket competitions and training sessions, including Community Cricket.
2.2 Cricket Australia (CA) endorses the 2016 Berlin Expert Consensus Statement on the management of Concussion (Berlin Guidelines) and aims for these Guidelines to be consistent with the Berlin Guidelines noting that the rules of cricket do not allow for the complete implementation of the Berlin Guidelines, mainly due to the inability to fully substitute players in First Class and International matches.
3. SCOPE
3.1 This Guideline applies to: (i) all male and female players and (ii) all umpires (collectively referred to as Participants):
3.1.1 participating in any organised community (that is, non-elite) cricket competitions and matches or training for such competitions or matches (collectively, Community Cricket); and
3.1.2 who receive a blow to the head or neck (either bare or while wearing protective equipment), whether by ball or otherwise.
3.2 Australian Cricket recommends Affiliated Clubs and Associations enforce these Guidelines for Participants taking part in Community Cricket training, matches and competitions.
4. RELATED DOCUMENTS
4.1 Club Assist Well Played Resource Guide (http://community.cricket.com.au/clubs/well-played)
5. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Australian Cricket recommends that all players wear properly fitted BS7928:2013 compliant helmets when batting, fielding within seven meters of the bat (except for off-side slips and gully fielders) and when wicket-keeping up to the stumps (regardless of age).
5.2 Australian Cricket recommends that umpires wear properly fitted BS7928:2013 compliant helmets.
5.3 The use of products /attachments properly fitted to helmets that provide additional protection for the vulnerable neck/occipital area of the batsman (Neck Guards) is also recommended.
5.4 Australian Cricket recommends that helmets should be replaced immediately following a significant impact (a blow to the helmet) in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
6. HEAD AND NECK TRAUMA MANAGEMENT
6.1 If a Participant receives a blow to the head or neck (whether wearing protective equipment or not), follow the Guidelines below. If there is doctor or other medically trained person available, they should attend to the participant and use the process outlined below and in the Concussion Assessment Flowchart. If there is no doctor or medical trained person available, either a player, coach or administrator from the same team or match official should manage this process:
(a) Ask the Participant how they are feeling as soon as possible after the incident – preferably before play resumes;
(b) Assume that the Participant has sustained a concussion if the Participant reports any of the following symptoms;
a. dizziness;
b. headache;
c. nausea;
d. feeling vague; and / or
e. amnesia (ask the Participant a series of questions such as the name of the two teams playing the game, the day of the week, the month of the year and the current Australian Prime Minister).
If the Participant is suffering any of these symptoms, the Participant should seek further medical care at a local medical centre, hospital or general practitioner / medical doctor before resuming playing, training or umpiring.
(c) If the Participant has any of the following signs and symptoms;
a. loss of consciousness for any time;
b. amnesia – inability to remember recent details;
c. inability to keep balance;
d. nausea or vomiting not explained by another cause, such as known gastroenteritis; and/or
e. fitting,
an ambulance should be called by dialling 000.
In no circumstance should the Participant resume playing, training or umpiring until an assessment is made by a qualified medical doctor. The Club or Association may request clearance by a qualified medical doctor prior to permitting the Participant to resume playing, training or umpiring.
6.2 If the Participant reports any of the symptoms above, the doctor (or medically trained person), the team (captain, coach, administrator or official) that attended to the participant should direct the Participant to stop playing, training or umpiring and the Participant must do so.
6.3 If the Participant is suspected, presumed or has an established concussion, the Club or Association should seek a clearance by a qualified medical person before the Participant be permitted to return to playing, training or umpiring, in line with Section 7 below.
6.4 More serious co-existing diagnoses (e.g. fractured skull, neck injury) should be managed as an emergency priority and once these are excluded then diagnosis of concussion can be considered. In all circumstances, an ambulance should be called.
7. RETURN TO PLAY
7.1 If a Participant has been diagnosed with a concussion, the final determination on whether the Participant may return to play, must be made by a qualified medical officer.
7.2 Participant must not return to play on the same day (i.e. for the match in a limited overs match) if the diagnosis of concussion is established.
7.3 The gradual return to play should be followed. An example of a gradual return to play program is outlined in Appendix 1. It should be noted that the activities are examples and a guide to return to play.
7.4 A Participant may be required to sit out the duration of a multi-day match and/or further matches if required through the medical review.
7.5 It is recommended that any player returning to play after a diagnosis of concussion should provide his/her club with a letter from a qualified medical officer stating that he/she has recovered from the concussion and is medically ft to return to play.
8. DOCUMENTATION
Cricket Australia recommends that all cases of concussion or suspected concussion (and all other head traumas) should be documented on an injury report. As a minimum, the injury report should record the date and time of the incident, the venue and how the incident occurred (e.g. batting, fielding) and any of the symptoms reported or signs observed.
Appendix1: Example of Gradual Return to Play after Concussion
STAGE
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITY
Complete physical & cognitive rest
Relative physical and cognitive rest for a minimum of 24hrs post incident, and until all symptoms & signs have resolved.
Light aerobic exercise
Walking, swimming or stationary cycling maintaining intensity around 70% estimated maximum heart rate. No resistance/strength training.
Sport-specifc exercise
Running drills e.g. 10 x 50m runs. Walk back to the start between repetitions. Not to exceed 80% estimated maximum heart rate. No cricket or strength/resistance training activities.
Non-competitive skills training
Progression to more complex training drills e.g. bowling drills (no batsman), felding drills, batting drills/throw-downs. Sub-maximal resistance/strength training. No additional conditioning.
Full Training
Full participation in cricket and strength and conditioning training at a volume and intensity appropriate to the time lost to injury. Should include skills that challenge physical and cognitive capabilities.
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