Mayhem on the ice: do players' injuries put team staff at risk of injury?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential for serious injury and the nature of injuries incurred as team staff or support personnel cross ice surfaces to get to players' benches or to attend to injured players.


METHODS
Hybrid study, case series with survey.


METHODS
Circumstances and nature of reported injuries.


RESULTS
Over 4 seasons, 988 injuries to team staff or support personnel were reported, including 94 concussions, 5 injuries to internal organs, 226 fractures, and 86 separations or dislocations. Most of the injuries were incurred by team staff or support personnel responsible for the welfare of players (managers, trainers, therapists, and emergency medical staff).


CONCLUSIONS
Team staff and support personnel incur serious injuries as a result of falls on the ice. Several preventive strategies can be put in place: changes in rink design, policies restricting access to the ice surface, and encouraging team staff and support personnel who must cross the ice surface to attend to injured players to wear gait-stabilizing devices.
Arbeau
Ryan P
RP
Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, Canada.
Gordon
Kevin E
KE
McCurdie
Glen
G
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology