Accident and Injury

Following an Accident: 

• For under-18s, ensure that parents/guardians are aware of the accident if they were not present
• Follow up the next day with the injured party or their parents/guardians and record the outcome or any further action taken (have they recovered by the next day or will they require further medical assistance etc)
• Complete an Accident Report for ALL accidents
• Record in detail all facts surrounding the accident, witnesses etc. and any first aid applied
• Guidance on Accident Reports:
  • Date of accident
  • Time of accident
  • Location / venue / weather conditions
  • Circumstances (eg nets session, hard ball training, coaching, competitive match etc)
  • Coaches on site at the time (names)
  • Number of children on site if applicable
  • Names of those involved in the accident
  • Details of the injured person(s)
    • Name
    • Age group
    • Gender
    • Contact details / or their parent’s/guardians contact details
  • Details of what happened / nature of accident
  • Names of any witnesses
  • Details of the injury
  • Details of first aid administered and by whom
  • Details of any recommendations made to the injured party / parents/guardians
  • Note whether a GP or Emergency Services were called
  • Outcome of actions on the day (eg carried on playing, went home, went to hospital etc)
  • Results of follow up check the next day
  • Include name and contact details of report writer and date of report
• Forward the report to Club Officers for confidential record keeping and any further action required
  • Administrative Officer: Haidee Goodwin; goodwinhaidee@gmail.com
  • Safeguarding Officer: Bethan Eyres; bethan_eyres@hotmail.com
  • All reports will be reviewed at the next scheduled Club Management Committee Meeting or sooner if required

Injury Reporting in Play-Cricket by the Administrative Officer:

• Any injury or incident involving an RCC member that requires attention, senior or junior, medical or otherwise will be recorded in a short online form in Play-Cricket as part of the ECB Injury Surveillance programme
• The aim is to gain better understanding of the type of injuries and potential risks of cricket participation at all levels
• The form is within the ‘Site Admin’ area of the Club’s Play-Cricket site, in the ‘Day To Day’ – ‘Members’ – ‘Injury Reporting’ section and can only be accessed and updated by the Administrative Officer
• It is a short online form detailing date; type of injury (bruise, cut, strain etc); injured body part etc

First Aiders:

• A list of qualified first aiders is available on the Club’s main notice board
• All coaches hold a Current First Aid Certificate (which includes emergency aid)
• All kit bags include an emergency first aid bag
• There are full first aid kits at all Club venues including Frensham Heights School, Rowledge Recreation Ground and Binsted Playing Field

Additional information: 

• The local doctor’s surgery is at 42 Boundstone Road, GU10 4TG – phone 01252 793183
• The nearest A&E department is Frimley Park Hospital, GU16 7UJ – map quest details are on the notice board adjacent to this guidance
• The NHS telephone advice service (non-emergency) can be contacted on 111

RCC January 2023

Accident, Incident or Injury Reporting Form

Concussion in Cricket

Concussion is a complex and potentially significant brain injury that must be taken seriously. Failure to do so can have major immediate and long-term consequences. Anyone suspected of a concussion/head injury will require a formal medical assessment.

If there are any concerns, they should be removed from the field of play and cleared medically before they can return.

All concussion needs to be taken seriously and anyone suspected of a concussion/head injury will require a formal medical assessment.

If there are any concerns, they should be removed from the field of play and cleared medically before they can return.

If in doubt, sit them out.

The player who is concussed is often not ‘knocked out’ but merely might seem slightly off-kilter, it can therefore be difficult to recognise a concussion. In these situations an umpire should seek the assistance from the person of authority from within the team. Similarly a coach should not expect a player to return to play unless he has been given the all-clear.

Once a concussion is diagnosed, the brain takes time to recover, just like any other injury. It needs rest and then it will take six days for a graded return. This means they will not play any subsequent part in the game.

The player will need to undergo a graded return to play.

1. In these situations, a player should be advised medical advice/instruction. Similarly, a coach should not expect a player to return to play unless he has been given the all-clear.
2. Umpires who are concerned about a player’s welfare, in relation to a head injury, should seek the assistance from the person of authority from within the team i.e. captain or coach. If there is any doubt, even if the player suggests they are ok, the player should leave the field for assessment
3. In junior cricket, in the event of a head injury to a player under 16 yrs of age, the responsible adult needs to invoke their Duty of Care and seek appropriate care
4. In the event of a concussion in the professional game, specific guidelines should be followed in relation to on and off-field management

 Please see the following documents: 

• Concussion in sport pocket guide
• Concussion_factsheet_for_coaches ECB   
• Concussion_factsheet_for_parents_ECB

It is RCC Policy that:

• any player with a suspected head injury must be monitored both on and off the field
• the player should not leave the ground without being provided with a copy of the head injury advice detailed below.

NOTE – If the injured person was wearing a helmet at the time of  sustaining the injury the helmet must be checked and authorised as safe by an expert or a new helmet purchased for play

Head injury advice – adults

If the player has sustained a head injury but no serious complications have been found, they are able to return home. However, monitoring of symptoms must continue.

Points to be followed:

• Rest (physically and mentally) includes both training and playing sports – this must be avoided until all symptoms are resolved and you are medically cleared
• No alcohol consumption
• No prescription or non-prescription drugs to be taken without medical supervision – in particular sleeping tablets, anti-inflammatory medication or sedating painkillers must be avoided
• Do not drive until medically cleared
• Make sure you have someone to stay with you for the first 48 hours after the injury – this is in case you experience more serious follow-up symptoms

If any changes in behaviour or worsening of symptoms are observed such as,

• unconsciousness or lack of consciousness, such as problems keeping your eyes open
• mental confusion, such as forgetting who or where you are
• any drowsiness that goes on for longer than one hour when you would normally be wide awake / excessive drowsiness
• any problems understanding or speaking / speech problems
• any loss of balance or problems walking
• any weakness in one or both arms or legs
• any problems with eyesight such as double vision
• a very painful headache that will not go away
• a worsening headache
• any vomiting or dizziness
• any fits or seizures
• clear fluid coming out of the ear or nose
• bleeding from one or both ears
• sudden deafness in one or both ears

You must please visit the nearest hospital accident and emergency department immediately.

Adult players are themselves responsible for following a specific programme of ‘graded return for adults with head injuries’ when returning to playing cricket.

Head injury advice – children and adolescents

Children’s/adolescents’ (five to 19 years) brains are still developing and as such, all children and adolescents require additional caution in the management of head injuries.

In the event that a child/adolescent player has sustained a head injury but has been assessed and is considered well enough to return home, they must continue to be monitored for symptoms.

Points to be followed after a head injury:

• Rest (physically and mentally)
• No prescription or non-prescription drugs to be taken without medical supervision – in particular sleeping tablets, anti-inflammatory medication or sedating painkillers must be avoided,
• Make sure someone stays with the child/adolescent for the first 48 hours after the injury – this is in case more serious follow-up symptoms develop.

Sometimes the symptoms of a more serious brain injury do not occur for several hours, or possibly days, after the initial injury has taken place. This means it’s important that you remain alert for signs and symptoms that could suggest a more serious injury has occurred.

If any of the following symptoms do return, please visit your nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

What to look out for:

• Difficulty waking your child should your child look lethargic or unwell
• Double vision
• Worsening headache
• Vomiting
• Unconsciousness – lack of full consciousness
• Confusion
• Loss of balance or weakness in arms and legs

Your child might continue to experience some predictable symptoms two to three days after head injury, such as a mild headache, mild nausea or slightly increased fatigue.

However, if you are concerned about any of these symptoms, you should take your child to their GP or A&E.

To aid your child’s recovery, they should follow a specific graded return for children.

 Returning after head injury

 Please inform the coach if your child has suffered a head injury prior to their return (at cricket or in any other environment) on their next attendance at the club for playing or training purposes, and be advised you are giving informed consent for their return to play by attending the sessions.

Advice on Return to Play   https://www.ecb.co.uk/concussion-in-cricket/return-to-play

Graded return to play for adults – Each concussion should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

However, regardless of the extent or nature of the concussion there is a need for immediate cognitive and physical rest.

Understanding of concussion is evolving but neurophysiology suggests that the brain does not begin to recover for some days after the initial insult and that there is an increased risk for some time after the initial injury.

A healthcare professional trained in the management of return to play and head injuries must supervise the graded return to play (GRTP).

Where there appears to be any delay or complication, the GRTP must be undertaken alongside a doctor with specialist training in head injury management and return to play.

All concussions must be discussed with the club Chief Medical Officer, appropriate specialist or doctor and the player must undergo a face-to-face review by a healthcare professional trained in concussion management.

All symptoms need to be absent for 24 hours before simple cognitive and physical activities can be undertaken.

Graded steps of gradual increase in activity must be accompanied by a 24-hour window to check for further symptoms or signs.

To achieve the last two levels as identified in the below table, the player needs a 24-hour window for each level and this therefore means no further return to a full training situation for six days.

Graded return to play stages: Adult 

Graded return to play stages: Children and adolescents

NOTE – If the injured person was wearing a helmet at the time of sustaining the injury the helmet must be checked and authorised as safe by an expert or a new helmet purchased for play

Children’s/adolescents’ (five to 19 years) brains are still developing and as such, all children and adolescents require additional caution in the management of head injuries. The child and adolescent brain is still improving its learning potential and thus it is imperative that the cognitive function is restored as a priority before any return to sport is considered.

This, in addition to other differences in physiological responses and specific risks, demands a more conservative return-to-play approach. It is appropriate to extend the amount of time of asymptomatic rest and/or the length of the graded exertion in children and adolescents.

All children under the age of 12 should be assessed using the Child SCAT3 tool

https://platform-static-files.s3.amazonaws.com/ecb/document/2016/08/26/299dfd14-7cdd-4d14-8c1b-48f41359e463/child_scat_3.pdf

The priority in the management of return to play in any child or adolescent must be a successful return to normal school function before they can return to sport.

It is likely that in this case the return-to-play period is 23 days.

There are specific additional return-to-school guidelines, which include extra-time for assignments/exams, quiet study areas, increased breaks, rests and a reduction in stressful situations.

All return to play should be subject to appropriate medical clearance and any worsening symptoms and signs, or failure to recover as expected, requires immediate referral to A&E.

Protective Headgear

The ECB strongly recommends that all recreational cricketers wear helmets which meet the latest British Safety Standard. The use of protective headgear is mandatory for all under 18s within the recreational game.

RCC January 2023

Concussion in sport pocket guide

Concussion factsheet for coaches ECB   

Concussion factsheet for parents ECB

DO NOT MOVE ANYONE WITH MAJOR INJURIES OR WHO APPEARS DAZED/UNCONSCIOUS

Stay calm but act swiftly and observe the situation, check whether there is a danger of further injuries; listen to what the injured person is saying

Get help from other coaches/adult assistants/club staff or officials

If the incident involves children, ensure the rest of the group are safe and that they are adequately supervised; inform the child’s parents if they are present, or nominate an appropriate person to telephone them and advise them of the incident

Alert the First Aider on site who should take appropriate action for minor injuries

Call 999 in the event of an injury requiring emergency/specialist treatment, nominate someone to call the emergency services

Do not move someone with major injuries. Wait for the emergency services

Complete an Accident Report for ALL accidents/incidents/injuries, however minor, in line with the RCC Accident and Injury Reporting Policy once all other action is complete. Forward the report to the Club Administrative Officer/Club Safeguarding Officer

For under-18s, ensure that parents/guardians are made aware of the accident if they were not present

Make a follow up call or visit the next day with the injured party or their parents

If there is need to evacuate the premises on a training night or match day, members should be directed to the Assembly Point – Main Car Park, School Road, where coaches/captains/group leaders should take a register and/or assess whether everyone is present

Additional Information:

Defibrillators installed in Rowledge

There are two public defibrillators installed in Rowledge:

• Outside the Co-op Store in The Square, on the wall facing the tennis courts.
• Outside the Methodist Church in Chapel Road.

There is a defibrillator stored inside the RCC pavilion adjacent to the accessible toilet, this is available for use whenever the pavilion is unlocked.

Nearest Hospital

• For serious injuries – the nearest A&E department is Frimley Park Hospital, GU16 7UJ
• For minor injuries – Haslemere Minor Injuries Unit, Church Lane, Haslemere GU27 2BJ – open from 8am to 5pm Monday – Sunday. Please note: MIU service is not for life threatening injuries, if you require urgent medical attention or assistance, call 999.
• The local doctor’s surgery is at 42 Boundstone Road, GU10 4TG – phone 01252 793183
• The NHS telephone advice service (non-emergency) can be contacted on 111

First Aiders

• A list of qualified first aiders is available on the Club’s pavilion main notice board
• All RCC coaches hold a Current First Aid Certificate (which includes emergency aid)
• All kit bags include an emergency first aid bag
• There are full first aid kits at all Club venues including Frensham Heights School, Rowledge Recreation Ground and Binsted Playing Field

RCC January 2023