Preventing injury by the book

By MAJ Ross Railton

In order to prevent sport and PT injuries, an awareness of current information, policy and guidelines relating to injury prevention is necessary. Sports coaches, administrators, instructors and members should be aware of the injury prevention documents available on the Defweb.

Documents previously discussed in injury prevention articles have included:

• Draft Sport Safety Management Plans (SSMP) http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/products/default.htm;
• DI(G) Pers 14-2 ADF Policy on Sport http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/documents/data/adfpubs/dig/gp14_02.pdf; and
• ADF Health Status Report, 2000 http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/infocentre/default.htm. These documents contain valuable information which can assist both those responsible for conducting physical activities and participants of these activities. SSMP are in draft format and will be refined in the near future. However, Defence Health Service Branch (DHSB) welcomes any constructive comment regarding the content of these documents. Other documents available on the Defweb include:
• ADF Health Promotion Guidelines http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/documents/data/adfpubs/hpd/hd246.pdf;
• Commanders Guide to Heat Stress and Hydration
  http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/aboutdhs/organisation/dph/guide%20on%20heat%20%20hydration-mp.pdf; and
• Strategic Direction and Advice for Increasing Safe Participation in Physical Activity in the ADF
  http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/infocentre/publications/reports/MUARCReview.pdf.

  This is a DHSB sponsored report produced by Monash University.

The latter document investigated the high incidence of sport and physical training injuries within the ADF and, subsequently, made several recommendations to improve this situation.

Many of these recommendations have since been adopted by DHSB http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/default.htm.

Injury prevention strategies currently in progress include the following:

The continued roll-out of the Defence Injury Prevention Program (DIPP) http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedipp/Default.asp; refinement of SSMP; Combat Fitness Assessment (CFA) and load carriage studies; and a proposal to fund the cost of accredited coaching, referee and sports first-aider courses.

In the future, ADF members can look forward to the safer conduct of sport and physical training as best practices are developed and adopted by DHSB.

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