Lesson #6: Safety, injury, bleeding, and concussion¶
by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil
Last updated: June 12, 2018
This is a simplified list of safety practices. See the WFTDA Risk Management Guidelines for more information.
Safety¶
All games must have two dedicated emergency medical providers.
They may not have a secondary job in the game (skater, NSO, etc.)
At least one must be watching the track at both times. Gameplay must halt if both are attending to a patient until at least one can resume watching the game.
The vast majority of games must comply with the WFTDA Risk Management Guidelines
The outside safety lane must be 10 feet wide (5 with a 3-foot high raised fixed barrier)
Columns / posts (even padded) may not be within 5 feet of the inside track boundary or 10 feet from the outside safety boundary
I strongly encourage officials refuse to work games (and skaters to play games) in venues that fail to meet minimum safety standards.
This includes walking out of a game before it starts.
Some non-sanctioned games outside the USA played under other insurance company safety guidelines may have different requirements.
Discuss this with your league if it applies to you.
Safety gear should be worn at all times while standing on skates (see lesson #5).
Skaters, refs, and NSOs may not participate in a game while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
Immediately report even suspected violations to the game head officials.
Injury¶
Minor (no immediate danger to self or others)
Examples: broken finger, sprained knee, having the “wind knocked out of you”
Skaters may withdraw from a jam and/or resume play at their discretion
Skaters in the box may be subbed out between jams at their discretion
Serious (potential danger to self or others, skater unable to continue)
Jam may be called at the ref’s discretion.
Skater unable to continue play should be directed off the track.
If fails to exit the track before active gameplay nears the skater, the jam may be called at the referee’s discretion.
Skater should be brought to the medics (or vice-versa) as appropriate
Major (immediate danger to oneself or others)
Jam must immediately be called
Medics should be summoned to the skater
Impaired / confused skaters
Jam may be called at the referee’s discretion
Speak directly to the skater
Tip: Ask the skater, “can you continue?” and not “are you okay?”, as skaters will often say they’re okay even when they are not.
If the skater does not respond or is disoriented, treat as a major injury.
Bleeding¶
A Skater who is bleeding must be removed from play
The skater may return to gameplay (even in the same jam) if these conditions are all met:
The bleeding has stopped
The wound is appropriately dressed
There is no visible blood on their gear and uniform
Blood on uniforms must be washed and disinfected, covered with duct tape, or cut out
Blood on gear must be cleaned and disinfected
Call the jam if…
… the skater has significant bleeding
- … there is blood on the track, safety lanes, penalty box, etc. – even a single drop
Gameplay may not resume until affected areas are cleaned and disinfected
Concussion¶
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury cause by a shake, blow, or jolt to the head.
A skater who is potentially concussed is no longer able to consent to playing in a game.
The skater must be cleared by the medics before they are allowed to return to play
A skater may refuse the medics’ evaluation, but is barred from participating for the remainder of the game
A skater whom the medics determine has no signs or symptoms of concussion may return to play
If this occurred in the first half of the game, the skater must be re-evaluated before the start of the second half.
If this occurred in the second half of the game, the skater must be re-evaluated at the end of the game.
Medics may request skaters return for re-evaluation at later times as well.
Example: before the skater’s next game of a multi-game event.
Common symptoms of concussion include blacking out, headaches, abnormal behavior, confusion/disorientation, difficulty balancing, nausea, agitation, and sensitivity to light.
For more information, see the CDC’s information program on concussions in youth sports at https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html.