Potential Hazards

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Potential Hazards

• Performers need to be aware of potential hazards,
  both to yourself and to others.
• The environment in which you are playing could
  potentially be a danger.
• There are potential hazards in the following, in
  which you need to be aware of

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• COURT AREAS
• THE GYMNASIUM
• OUTDOOR AND ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES
• THE PLAYING FIELD
• THE SPORTS HALL
• THE SWIMMING POOL

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• COURT AREAS
• Court areas can be used for a variety of
  different sports such as netball, basketball,
  tennis, football, etc. as well as sport they are
  widely used as the general playground for schools
  where pupils spend break time and lunch.
• Litter can be a problem causing people to slip,
  drinks cans are especially dangerous along with
  other sharp objects.
• It is vital that the playing area is checked
  before use and maintained, all potential hazards
  need to be removed.

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• They might include
• Broken/ protruding bits of surround fencing.
• Nails and splinters.
• Corners of building that are too close.
• Wobbly portable posts or portable posts with feet
  sticking out into the playing area.
• Surfaces affected by the weather.
• Projecting post sockets which may not be in use
  but which may be in the middle of the playing
  area e.g. tennis post sockets.
• Nearby windows not protected by grills or
  fencing.

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• THE GYMNASIUM
• Potentially the gymnasium can be the most
  hazardous activity areas
• Wall bars, window ladders and beam uprights can
  often project into the working area even if they
  are stored away correctly
• All of the equipment that may appear around the
  gymnasium could potentially be very hazardous if
  not used appropriately
• Sometimes pupils will need to remove
  shoes/trainers before entering the gym. The
  reason for this is it can leave dirt on the floor
  that can unsafe and dangerous
• Before a lesson in the gym you should check
• The floor is clean and dry.
• If portable apparatus items have been stored away.

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• If items of fixed apparatus such as beams, ropes,
  etc have been stored away in their fixed
  position.
• Check wall fixing to ensure they are safe and
  have not come away.
• That fixed bolts or catches are securely in place
  on equipment to be used and that the equipment is
  safe to use.

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• OUTDOOR ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES
• Adventurous activities take place
• ON LAND
• ON WATER
• ON BOTH LAND AND WATER

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• ACTIVITIES ON LAND
• The location on land may be remote. It could be
  exposed to bad weather and the terrain may be
  difficult to walk on.
• This means the way we dress and communicate
  becomes extremely important.
• Land-based activities include
• assault courses
• camping or expeditions
• caving and potholing
• cycling and mountain biking
• rock climbing and many more

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• ACTIVITIES ON WATER
• The main hazard when on water may be whether the
  water is enclosed like a swimming pool or whether
  its open or coastal, how deep it is and whether
  there are dangerous currents
• Water-based activities include
• angling
• canoeing and kayaking
• rafting
• rowing
• windsurfing
• swimming and many more

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• THE PLAYING FIELD
• Playing fields like courts can be difficult to
  close off effectively.
• These spaces can often be used for all kinds of
  activities and by ordinary members of the public.
• Potential hazards include dog faeces, broken
  glass, crushed drink cans and general litter.
• The grass on rugby pitches can often be quite
  long and potentially dangerous objects can be
  difficult to see.
• As with all surfaces it is important to check
  before a session.

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• Other potential hazards that may cause injury
  include
• Long grass, uneven or pitted surfaces.
• Frost , ice, snow or heavy rainfall.
• Use of sticks or poles.
• Wobbly portable goalposts
• Rugby goalpost without protective padding at
  their base.
• Corner flags or other marker posts that are not
  flexible and which could snap.
• People wearing smooth-soled footwear,
  particularly in contact sports can be very
  dangerous.

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• THE SPORTS HALL
• The sports hall potentially has many hazards
• Like the gymnasium it is important to wear the
  correct footwear.
• Sports halls often have more than one means of
  access and the number of students entering or
  leaving during activities may be greater than in
  a gymnasium.
• You need to check its safe to enter before
  entering the room.
• Potential hazards in the sports hall are
• Apparatus and other equipment which is not in use
  must be safely stored or fastened away in order
  to minimise obstacles.
• Walls and other surfaces should be smooth and
  free from projections or jagged/sharp objects.

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Sports Hall
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• THE SWIMMING POOL
• The potential hazards could be
• pool-based activities
• the pool and its immediate surroundings

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• POOL - BASED ACTIVITIES
• The governing bodies of activities that take
  place in water such as the ASA and the RLSS,
  publish clear guidelines on all aspects of safety
  and potential hazards
• The biggest potential hazard in any swimming pool
  are the people who use it.
• People can drown in swimming pools.
• To ensure safety it is essential that you
• only enter the pool when you are told.
• engage only in activity you are asked to perform.
  
• leave the water when and in the manner you are
  instructed.

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• Potential hazards might include
• Wet floor surfaces around the pool, in the
  showering and changing areas.
• Diving boards, spring boards, etc
• The use of swimming aids in the water by
  inexperienced swimmers.
• Venturing out of your depth.
• Submerging grating or grilles - danger of
  swimmers being caught on these and held under
  water.
• Swimming pools are sometimes used for other
  activities such as the teaching of basic canoeing
  skills or for training and testing in life-saving
  and personal survival.
• Its obvious but there is a general rule that
  swimmers and canoes do not mix.

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Prevention Of Injury

• There are risks involved with virtually every
  single physical activity or sport as with the
  surroundings in which they take place.
• Recognising and removing potential hazards is
  very important for helping the prevention of
  injuries.
• Particular attention needs to be given in the
  following areas

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• APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF COMPETITION
• CLOTHING/ FOOTWEAR
• CORRECT TECHNIQUE
• KNOWLEDGE OF APPROPRIATE SAFETY PROCEDURES
• LIFTING/ CARRYING/ PLACING EQUIPMENT
• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
• RULES, CODES, LAWS
• WARM UP/ COOL DOWN

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• APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF COMPETITION
• Problems can be associated in some sports with
  big differences between contestants in
• AGE
• There are regulations controlling the age of
  participants playing together. Physically it is
  not safe for someone who is bigger and stronger
  to play or compete against a person who is
  younger, and therefore usually not as strong.
• SEX
• As boys get a little older they usually become
  physically more stronger than girls so this can
  be a problem. It is also important to identify
  both activities and the age at which segregation
  is desirable. In sports where it is a problem
  governing bodies usually publish regulations on
  such matters.

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• PHYSICAL SIZE/WEIGHT
• Being big ca be an advantage and a disadvantage.
  There can be a safety concern when different
  sizes play together. There are few regulations
  that restrict people of different sizes and
  weight from competing in the same high contact
  sports.
• CORRECT CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
• In most sports, clothing fulfils three major
  purposes
• identity (e.g. team strips)
• protection from cold weather in the warm-up
  period (e.g. a tracksuit)
• suitability / safety for the specific activity

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• FOOTWEAR
• Ideally sports shoes should be designed to
  provide support to the arches of the feet, to
  cushion the ankle joint when impact is made with
  the ground in activities such as running and
  jumping.
• Some sports require specialist footwear for
  example cricketers wear spikes or rubber soles
  whereas rugby and football players wear boots
  with studs.
• JEWELLERY
• All jewellery must be removed before any physical
  activity takes place. If for any reason it cannot
  be removed then it must be taped or covered so it
  cannot cause an injury.

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• CORRECT TECHNIQUE
• One benefit of using the correct technique is
  improved performance. The correct technique can
  also minimise the chance of personal injury and
  injuries to others. For example a badly executed
  tackle in football could have serious
  implications personally or to the opposition. An
  example could be thought off in all sports, a
  poorly directed javelin, shot or discus in
  athletics could result in death.
• It is important to know the appropriate safety
  procedure for particular activities. Safety
  procedures are important in
• setting up/preparing for an activity
• ensuring safe play
• completion and clearing away

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• LIFTING/ CARRYING/ PLACING EQUIPMENT
• It is important that everyone who uses the
  equipment helps to store it away safety do not
  just leave it to the teacher.
• However, it is as equally important that
  equipment is stored away under the guidance of
  the teacher. E.g. javelins.
• You should always be aware of the following
• How to take out and move or carry equipment
  safely.
• How to make secure and use equipment safely.
• How to put the equipment away safely.

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• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
• Personal protective equipment is very important
  and indeed in some sports and schools compulsory.
  In cricket batsmen have to wear helmets, in
  football shinpads must be worn, in hockey the
  goal keeper wears protective clothing. Sometimes
  it is up to the individual if they wear
  protective equipment in rugby for example with
  gum shields, scum caps and shoulder pads.

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Here are just a few examples of protective
equipment, can you see them all?
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• RULES, CODES, LAWS
• The rules of any sport aim to
• Establish a framework of rules, which as far as
  possible ensures fair competition.
• Set clear guidelines as to what is safe and fair
  practice and to identify a range of sanctions for
  use against offenders.

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• WARM/ COOL DOWN
• A proper warm up reduces the risk of injury.
• A gradual and controlled cool down contributes to
  the most effective recovery from physical
  exertion.
• GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE
• Personal hygiene is an essential consideration
  for any athlete. It helps to keep you healthy.
• You need to wash after physical activity to
  remove body odour and bacteria, deodorant will
  only disguise the smell of body odour not remove
  the bacteria.
• It is also important to keep clothes clean as
  they absorb sweat and allow bacteria to bread.
• Athletes foot and verrucas are common feet
  infections.

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• ATHLETES FOOT
• This is a fugal growth between the toes, found in
  places that are moist. It causes the skin to
  crack ad peel making it feel itchy. It is
  important that feet are kept clean and dry
  particularly between the toes. Athletes foot
  cream, spray or talcum powder can be used.

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• VERRUCAS
• These are warts on the feet and are easily
  spread. They can be painful and difficult to get
  rid of. They are caused by a virus. It is
  important that verruca sock is used to prevent
  others from becoming infected. Ointment can also
  be used, in severe cases doctors will freeze dry
  the verruca off your foot.

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• USING FLIP-FLOPS IN COMMUNAL AREAS WILL HELP
  PREVENT INFECTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE

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Injury Treatment

• Signs and symptoms can often be confused
• SIGNS are what you can SEE - swelling, bleeding,
  etc
• SYMPTOMS are what the injured person can TELL you
  - pain, discomfort, etc
• It is the teachers or coaches responsibility to
  help the injured person. Serious or potentially
  serious injuries should be dealt with by a
  professional.

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• You should know about the following
• blisters
• concussion
• cuts/grazes
• dehydration
• exhaustion
• ligament injuries
• muscle injuries
• tendon injuries
• winding
• RICE

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• BLISTERS
• Blisters form when the skin repeatedly rubs
  against another surface and causes friction.
• A tear occurs between the upper layers of the
  skin and although the outer surface remains
  unbroken fluid seeps into the space immediately
  beneath it.
• CONCUSSION
• Concussion is normally the result of a severe
  blow to the head, this causes jarring of the
  brain against the inside of the skull and
  swelling of the brains surface.
• Signs may be that the person is pale and
  breathing in short little breaths, they could be
  cold and have a fast pulse.

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• Medical attention must be sought as a matter of
  urgency.
• Try and ensure they remain conscious and have no
  liquid.
• CUTS AND GRAZES
• A cut is the breaking of the skin with the
  release of blood from the damaged blood vessels.
• A graze is the scraping of the skin.
• Both can occur during physical activity.
• DEHYDRATION
• Dehydration often occurs in sport as a result of
  excessive perspiration.

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• Combined with an inadequate fluid intake
• Conditions usually found in endurance events -
  e.g. marathon.
• Signs are usually that the person looks exhausted
  and are weak on their feet.
• Symptoms are dry and tacky feel in the mouth,
  dizziness, sickness and problems with their
  balance/co-ordination.
• Fluid intake is the best course of action, if
  this does not help get medical advice.
• Serious dehydration which is untreated can cause
  seizure, brain damage or even death in really
  extreme cases.

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Martin Johnson taking in plenty of fluid
(isotonic drink)
Isotonic drinks are ideal for rehydrating and
refuelling
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• EXHAUSTION
• Can be associated with activities in extreme
  environments.
• Signs can be similar to dehydration.
• Problems co-ordinating their movement.
• Low temperature.
• Dilated pupils.
• Weak pulse.
• Pale, moist skin.
• Fainting spells.
• They could also complain of headaches, dizziness,
  sickness and physical weakness.
• If the exhaustion is related to the heat or cold,
  then the person should be either cooled down or
  heated up.

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• INJURIES TO LIGAMENTS, TENDONS AND MUSCLES
• STRAINS - to a muscle or tendon is often caused
  by overuse, excessive force or over stretching.
• SPRAINS - is an injury to a ligament surrounding
  a joint can often be caused by a wrench or twist.
• TEARS - may be complete or partial. It is caused
  when muscle fibres are torn away from the tendons
  attaching them to the bones. Usually happens when
  over stretching. Tears can also occur in muscles
  and ligaments.

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• WINDING
• Is usually caused by a blow to the abdominal
  area, which temporarily paralyses the diaphragm.
• Signs include difficulty in breathing and often
  grasping for air and the inability to speak.
• Place the person in a reclining seated position
  until breath is regained.
• RICE
• The RICE method is recommended for all minor
  injuries. It stands for
• R EST
• I CE
• C OMPRESSION
• E LEVATION

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• REST - allow the injury time to recover. Activity
  too soon will cause further damage and increase
  the recovery time.
• ICE - cover the injured part in ice for 10 to 20
  minutes. The coldness results in less blood
  flowing to the injured part reducing bleeding and
  swelling.
• COMPRESSION - wrap a bandage not too tightly
  around the injured part, this provides support
  and immobilisation. Preventing further damage and
  reduce swelling.

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• ELEVATION - raise the injured part. Gravity will
  reduce the amount of fluid collecting in the
  injured tissue and the flow of blood to it.