Monday night at Montford E. Illick stadium the Saucon Valley Athletic Department sponsored a session to review emergency protocols in preparation for the upcoming athletic season.
Saucon Valley athletic trainer Amy Virden secures the head and neck of student-athlete volunteer Christian Carvis.
Saucon Valley athletic trainers Amy Virden and Matt Fitzpatrick were on hand along with representatives from St. Luke’s University Hospital–including Saucon Valley residents Dr. David Skillenge and Dr. William Hoff–to review and demonstrate emergency techniques that would be used in the event a serious injury occurred. Dr. Neilson Matthews of Lehigh Valley Health Network and Dewey EMTs Kyle Bartholomew and Phil Szalczinger were also present to review the process as well.
Using Saucon senior football player Christian Carvis as the volunteer victim, the group first focused on spinal cord injuries.
Led by Virden and Dr. Skillenge, the group worked together to practice a “log roll” of Carvis onto the spine-board. After securing the head and neck area, great care was taken to stabilize the victim before meticulously rolling him from his belly onto the spine-board.
The “lift and slide” technique, which requires a little more muscle, was also demonstrated. After stabilization, at least seven responders would work together to carefully lift the victim while another helper would slide the spine-board beneath the victim. Carvis was then firmly strapped to the board.
The group concluded the night’s exercise with a vacuum splint demonstration. This time Virden focused on Carvis’ imagined lower leg injury. After stabilization, the splint–which is about the size of bath towel–was easily slid under the leg. The splint was gently wrapped and secured. A basic hand pump was then used to inflate the splint that would immobilize the injured leg.
Considering the large number of participants in local high school sports, it is not very often that a serious injury has to be handled. Serious injuries are sadly inevitable, but it is comforting to know that the Saucon Valley athletic medical staff has practiced and are prepared should they be needed during such a hardship.
Saucon Source salutes the athletic trainers and the SVSD athletic medical staff for organizing this event and for helping to keep the student-athletes of Saucon Valley safe!
About the Author: Keith Riefenstahl is a deeply-rooted sports fan, former coach and freelance writer. A Penn State grad and veteran educator, he lives in Saucon Valley with his wife Jill and four children: Brooke, Kiele, Travis and Tanner.
Volunteer student-athlete Christian Carvis is stabilized after being rolled onto a spine-board.
The “lift-and-slide” stabilization technique is demonstrated at a training exercise Monday at Saucon Valley School District Stadium.
Trainer Amy Virden demonstrates on student-athlete volunteer Christian Carvis.
Trainer Amy Virden pumps the vaccuum splint.