Introduction

Some chronic medical conditions are relatively common amongst elite players. Knowledge of these conditions for players (and touring party) is important, as is ensuring the medical team are aware of how to manage such conditions, with the correct medications and equipment.

The general approach to a player with a medical emergency is the same as for a player who has sustained a traumatic injury: safe approach, ABCDE. In the context of a medical emergency with a collapse, concern over C-spine control is not usually appropriate.

This chapter will cover the immediate management of four common medical emergencies, acute asthma, anaphylaxis, seizures and hypoglycaemia. As with any immediate care situation, definitive care with referral to a hospital emergency department (ED) should be considered early, and in any situation where a patient remains unstable, requires monitoring, or is likely to relapse.