Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 28 - EDUCATION
Part CLVII - Bulletin 135-Health and Safety
Chapter 5 - Injury Management Program Rules for Serious Sports Injuries
Section CLVII-505 - Injury Management Program Protocol for Serious Sports Injuries

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code CLVII-505

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. A student-athlete, who reports, or exhibits, any sign or symptom of a possible serious sports injury, defined as any loss of function as a result of a direct or indirect injury, shall immediately be disqualified from continued participation and be removed from practice, training or competition.

1. A direct injury refers to an injury which results from participation in the fundamental skills of the sport. This may include, but not limited to, fractures, dislocations, injuries to the eyes, dental, or any other acute episode of musculoskeletal injury.

2. An indirect injury refers to an injury caused by a systemic failure (usually cardiac or respiratory in nature) resulting from exertion while participating in an activity, or by a complication which may be secondary to a non-fatal injury. This may include, but not limited to, abnormal/difficulty in breathing, the appearance of dizziness or confusion or any other unusual behavior exhibited by a student-athlete.

B. The student-athlete shall be evaluated for a serious sports injury, as determined by a doctor of medicine/doctor of osteopathic medicine (MD/DO), and appropriate medical treatment rendered in a timely manner.

1. If a MD/DO is not immediately available, the injured student-athlete may be triaged by an appropriate mid-level provider duly authorized by a MD/DO.

2. If no such caregiver(s) is immediately available, then the designated responsible school personnel shall ensure that medical treatment is rendered in a timely manner.

C. If the student-athlete's injury is not a serious sports injury, then a return-to-play (RTP) clearance may be provided by an onsite MD/DO or an appropriate mid-level provider duly authorized by a MD/DO.

D. A student-athlete with a serious sports injury may only be allowed to return to practice, training, or competition after a RTP clearance is provided by a MD/DO to the athletic trainer or coach. The clearance provided by a MD/DO shall include a step-wise RTP protocol.

E. The game official's role during a contest shall be to ensure the immediate removal of any student-athlete who reports or exhibits any sign or symptom of a serious sports injury from that contest until a RTP clearance has been provided by an onsite MD/DO or an appropriate mid-level provider duly authorized by a MD/DO. [The game official shall always rule on the side of caution, with the health and safety of the athlete being his/her primary and foremost concern.]

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:1299.186.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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