Using Medical Gases in Sports Trauma Management

What exactly is Entonox?

Entonox is a pain killing/relieving gas made up of 50% Nitrous Oxide & 50% Oxygen. It's a very effective analgesic agent with rapid onset & offset characteristics.

Nitrous oxide was discovered in the mid-1700s. Its was first used in America to reduce the pain of tooth extraction & was introduced to Europe in 1867.

Studies show 20-30% nitrous oxide has a comparable analgesic effect to 15mg of sub cut morphine. 50% nitrous oxide (Entonox) was equivalent to 100mgs of pethidine. (Chapman et al, The analgesic effects of low concentrations of Nitrous Oxide compared in humans with morphine sulphate).

When we use Entonox

You should consider using entonox for pain relief after traumatic injuries to your players. You can use it prior to splinting a suspected fracture or painful soft tissue injury in adults & children.

Entonox is a self-administered, inhaled analgesic agent indicated for moderate to severe pain.

Why we use Entonox in Sport

Traumatic sports injuries occur in all sport from grassroot to professional levels.

Your club may be well equipped to deal with these injuries, but not all clubs have access to the appropriate equipment or training. This can leave your players at risk and in pain while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

This news story from 2015 that emphasizes the point: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-30693304

30-year-old Luigi Segadelli broke his tibia and fibula while playing for Morriston RFC in Swansea. The game was cancelled as Luigi's foot began to turn blue due to the length of time he waited for emergency help.

Who can use Entonox?

Entonox must be administered correctly once you are appropriately trained working within the scope of your professional practice. There are practical elements to the administration of Entonox as well as side effects to consider.

Good sports first aid training and/or medical training, combined with the correct use of Entonox, can offer your players immediate pain relief. This enables you to appropriately splint & manage your injured player.

Want more info? For further details view our medical gases course page. We also discuss Medical gas administration on our Sports Trauma Management Course. 

5 tips to prepare for Suturing & Wound Management

A clash of heads or studs to the leg, suturing & wound management is one of the most common skills required for pitch side medical staff.

But the knowledge and skills alone aren’t enough.

Taking responsibility for your first wound is daunting, but you should be able to manage with confidence even under pressure.

Here are 5 quick tips for getting yourself prepared for suturing & wound management:

1. Specialist Training

Suturing is a skill you should learn from a medical professional with experience in the field. Any training you attend needs to cover the content required for your role. Do your research and, if necessary, speak with the provider to confirm the content is right for you!

2. Regular Practice

You can’t put your skills to the test without regular practice. Although nothing prepares you better than experience, practice definitely makes perfect. Oranges & leather sponges are good substitutes for the real thing. Take the time to practice suturing, stapling and gluing different types of wounds.

3. Suitable Kit

Make sure your kit is up to scratch. Get to know your equipment. Use kit that's similar or the same to the kit you train & practice with & are comfortable using.

It's time consuming & often expensive trying to locate individual suturing items for your own kit. We offer ready made bags that include all the equipment used on our course

4. Communication within your team

Communication is key throughout your pitchside medical team. Only members of the team with suturing qualifications, insurance and experience should manage serious wounds.

Never work outside your scope of practice and always work within your team, organization or employer’s guidelines.

It should be made clear to everyone within the team who is responsible for all assessing & suturing more serious wounds.

5. Consider the worst-case scenario

Always prepare for the worst-case scenario. There is always a possibility you could be dealing with a major wound/bleed. Know your limits and ensure you have an action plan in place for an emergency.

Following a training course you should be able to access advice and ongoing support when required. We offer this to all attendees of Lubas Medical courses.

For further information on Wound Management & Suture courses contact us.