ACCIDENTAL & SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES & ILLNESSES
Staying Healthy During the Lighthouse Phuket International Cricket Sixes
Phuket International Hospital has been providing medical coverage at the Phuket International
Cricket Sixes since its inception in 2004, and during this time our nurses and medial teams have
treated a wide range of accidental injuries and self inflicted illnesses.
To assist you in staying healthy, Phuket International Hospital has provided a basic introduction
on what you should do if you become injured or ill.
During the event, healthcare providers will be on standby at the stadium to treat any incidents.
First Aid treatment for players and officials is available free of charge and an ambulance and
hospital services are only a short distance away.
Accidental Injuries
By far the most common condition that we treat at the sixes is soft tissue injuries. This is
basically because we are in the tropics, it’s difficult to get grass to grow and the ground is
hard. Added to this is that most of us are not complete athletes and when we fall down, injuries occur
from scratches, bruises, dislocations and sometimes fractures. Soft tissue injuries are those
injuries (excluding fractures) affecting the joints and muscles of the limbs.
Sprains and strains involve the over-extension of a joint or muscle, usually with partial rupture
of the ligaments or tendons, and can occur when you think you’re Brett Lee, trying to bowl at
100kmh or Brian Lara, going for the match winning six. Overexertion is the culprit, so play within your
limits and make sure you warm up before playing. Doing stretch exercises will reduce your chances of
spraining or straining something.
For all soft tissue injuries, see our healthcare staff as it’s important to make sure that any
breaks in the skin are cleaned. Infections are more common in the tropical heat and an unclean wound
WILL get infected. This is because bugs like to grow in the hot and humid Phuket weather. Rest, ice,
compression and elevation is good advice, commonly called the RICE treatment. Keep all wounds dry and
cover them when you are showering, and have the dressings changed each day or follow the advice of our
healthcare staff. Even for slight wounds you should ensure that your tetanus boosters are up to date.
Ice packs should be immediately applied for a maximum of 10 minutes and can be re-applied when the
damaged area becomes warm again. Never apply ice directly onto the skin, as this may cause tissue damage.
Always use a barrier, such as cloth, between the ice pack and the skin to help protect tissue.
Immediately massaging the affected area should be avoided, use RICE. If pain persists, seek medical
attention. Massage may help only after 24 hours, once the swelling has subsided a little (there are good
Thai massage therapists just outside the stadium). Also for the first 24 hours, avoid using Tiger Balm or
any liniment type product that produces blood vessel dilation. They will only make the swelling worse,
and are not a first aid treatment. Ice is, it reduces swelling, pain and inflammation.
Outside the ground, the next most common accidental injuries are caused by motorcycles and if you’re
renting one, make sure you wear a helmet, keep off the alcohol and ride within the law and your riding ability.
Self Inflicted Illnesses
Remaining in the sun for extended periods produces heat or sun stroke, and when you’re fielding or
batting, you may become lightheaded, dizzy and disoriented. If you don’t get into the shade, and drink
lots of fluids (and I do not mean alcohol), you may faint and vomit. Sun stroke is not a serious condition,
but it is a sign that your body cannot take the heat. If you feel the effects, substitute yourself and cool
down. Whilst playing, drink lots of liquids, and try some oral rehydration salts (commonly called ORS) added
with water. If you’re not urinating every 3-4 hours, you’re not drinking enough.
Whilst we are on the subject of drinking, the dreaded hangover will affect many of you. Be warned that
some Thai beers have high alcohol content, and that they can give a nasty morning after kick in the head.
The best way of avoiding a hangover is not to drink alcohol (that’s easy). If you cannot do that, drink
lots of water during your drinking session and have lots of it before going to bed. A hangover and the
resulting headache is your brain reacting to becoming dehydrated. Alcohol dehydrates you, so does being in the
tropics, as does sleeping in an air-conditioned room.
Peter Davison
Lastly is the diarrhea and most new comers to Phuket will get a dose of some description. It’s
generally not a problem, unless you’re stuck in the stadium toilets without toilet paper and you’re
next up to bat. Give your body time to adjust, again drink lots of fluid (Seven-Up lemonade is best), avoid
fruit and dairy products and let nature take its course. Seek medical advice if things don’t improve in
24 hours or there is blood in your stool.
Enjoy Phuket and your cricket.
Peter Davison is the Manager International Services at Phuket International Hospital.
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