First aid advice
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First aid
advice for sports
related injuries
Playing sport is a great way to keep fit and healthy but it can often lead to sports related
injuries. Leading first aid charity St John Ambulance has issued some advice on the best
ways to deal with sporting injuries.
Sports injuries can be caused by a number of factors including a fall, heavy blow, not
warming up properly before exercising or pushing yourself too hard. Almost any part
of the body can be injured, including the muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues
(tendons and ligaments). It’s important to take care when exercising and essential to
know how to reduce further injury.
First aid advice for sports injuries
1. Sprains & strains
Strains and sprains are common injuries
which affect the soft tissues around joints
– the muscles, tendons and ligaments.
They happen when the tissues are
stretched, twisted or torn by violent
or sudden movements, for instance if
someone changes direction suddenly, or
falls and lands awkwardly.
What you should do:
• Help the injured person to sit or lie
down comfortably, with some padding
underneath their injury to support it.
• Cool the area with a cold compress/
ice pack to help reduce the swelling and
pain
• Apply comfortable support to the
injury, by placing a layer of padding
over the cold compress and securing it
in place with a bandage
• Support the injured part in a raised
position if possible
• If the pain is severe or they are unable
to move the injured part, arrange to get
them to hospital
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