Risk Management
Welcome to the GVMHA Risk Management Page!
Message from GVMHA / Risk Manager (2019-11-20)
Just a quick message regarding player safety and managing injuries.
The hockey season is now in full swing! As we all know, our sport is a fast-paced, action-packed game that is both physically and emotionally demanding. Injuries in hockey are inevitable and will occur. The vast majority of injuries are unavoidable and are part of the game.
During the initial incident, it is often difficult for the coaches / health & safety person to know the severity of the players injury or even if they are truly injured due to the adrenaline rush and the emotionally-charged situation. Most situations are clear cut whether players can continue playing or not. However, sometimes it will fall into that dreaded gray zone. Making a decision in these situations can be stressful and difficult due to multiple factors including: old school attitudes (“get up and play”), wanting to win the game, parent / coaching pressures, and the player often under reporting their symptoms. To muddy the situation even more is some injuries, especially, head injuries / concussions will have delayed symptoms.
Health & Safety / Coaches will make decisions based on player safety as their priority. It is always recommended that we err on the side of caution in these situations. It is also important that parents are involved and supportive of these difficult decisions.
If a player sustains an injury where he/she will miss time on the ice:
- Communication between the coaches / health & safety and the parents is essential.
- Players should seek appropriate medical attention and assessments immediately.
- Complete the Hockey Canada Injury Report form within 10 days of the injury.
- Completed forms should submitted to the Head Coach and Health & Safety which will then forwarded to the GVMHA Administrator
- GVMHA will then forward the original copy to BC Hockey
- Return to play note or letter for the player should be submitted to the Head Coach and Health & Safety which will then forwarded to the GVMHA Administrator
- GVMHA will then forward to BC Hockey
- This note must come from a medical doctor.
Feel free to contact the GVMHA Administrator (gvmha@shaw.ca) or the Risk Manager (riskmanager@vernonminorhockey.com) if there are any questions or concerns.
GAME ON!!
Helpful Resources / Links:
- BC HOCKEY Risk Management website (this page has many useful links including Health and Safety program, Respect in Sport, Concussion Awareness, Hockey Canada Concussion Protocol)
https://www.bchockey.net/RiskManagement/RiskManagement.aspx
- Hockey Canada Injury Report form
https://www.bchockey.net/AdminAppForms/Hockey%20Canada%20Injury%20Report%20Form%202012-05-17.pdf
- Concussion Awareness Training Tool (This is an excellent online tool for parents, coaches, health & safety and health professionals - there are excellent online courses for parents, coaches, and health professionals. Also there are informative handouts for the whole concussion management pathway including concussion information, incident reports, monitoring, medical assessment letters, return to school and sport strategies, and medical clearance letters.)Note: The CATT online courses are free of charge.
- The Parachute Smart Hockey Program (this is an excellent resource for all things related to concussions, lots of PDF files!)
https://parachute.ca/en/program/smart-hockey/
- Braintrust Canada (Kelowna) (BrainTrust Concussion Clinic offers a medically supervised approach to helping children and youth ages 5 to 25 heal safely from concussion, so they can get back to the sports and activities they love.)
Vernon office - #105 - 3402 27th Ave.
Phone: 250-542-3555 ext. 207
Fax: 250-542-4501
https://braintrustcanada.com/youth-concussion-clinic/#concussion-clinic-eligibility
