Safety Update – Acquisition of AEDs, Possible Concussion Assessment
Through the generous support of the players’ families, the Broncos Lacrosse Club has purchased three portable Automatic External Defibrillators (“AEDs”) for use during Club events. The AEDs will be at the field for all practices and games for all three teams to ensure the players’ safety. In conjunction with the purchase, the Coaches and several parents have been trained and certified in the use of the AEDs and in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (“CPR”).
The AEDs were acquired due to the possibility of Commotio Cordis, a rare and often fatal heart stoppage that can be caused by a hard impact to the chest at a specific time in the heart’s cycle. Should a thrown ball or impact from a stick or helmet cause Commotio Cordis, the heart must be immediately restarted to avoid lasting damage or death. Availability of the AEDs and certification of the Coaches and others assures immediate response in the event of injury.
While Commotio Cordis is extremely rare in the sport, US Lacrosse (the governing body for amateur lacrosse in this country) believes at least five high school and college players have died due to this condition since 1999. The need for proactive safety management is underscored by the survival rate of up to 90% if the patient is treated within one minute, and the rapid decline to a 50% survival rate within five minutes after the injury. The Broncos Lacrosse Club believes the availability of AEDs and certification of Coaches associated with all Club teams provides a measure of safety for both the Club’s players and those on the teams against which they compete.
The Club purchased the three Zoll AEDs from Desert AED, a local distributor. With the training provided the Coaches and others, the units are extremely easy to use – their diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities help assess the need for CPR or defibrillation, guide CPR if appropriate, and provide defibrillation to restart the heart when required. Completely self-contained, the AEDs are battery-operated and portable in a backpack-style carrying case, and offer a five-year “shelf life” before the batteries must be replaced.
Due to the importance of player safety, the Club is also investigating use of a computer-based concussion assessment tool offered by US Lacrosse to evaluate all players. The assessment would provide a “baseline” against which to test a player when concussion is suspected. Prior assessment and use of the testing tool as appropriate could ensure players aren’t allowed to participate in the sport until the effects of a concussion are resolved. If feasible, the assessment would be done prior to the beginning of the season, and testing thereafter provided whenever a player sustains a blow to the head.
The Bronco Lacrosse Club’s efforts to ensure player safety are possible only because of the continuing support of the players’ families. The Board is extremely grateful for this support, and the shared commitment to athletics as an integral part of the development of the young men participating in lacrosse through the Club.
