Managers and coaches will review DLL’s injury reporting procedures during the preseason meeting, as described below. This is outlined in the ASAP in the link at the bottom of this page.
What to Report
We cannot eliminate all injuries or accidents, but we can use them to identify the cause so something can be done to prevent occurrence, or at the very least, recurrence. Good judgment should be used when deciding which accidents and near misses to report for analysis. The severity of an injury is a consideration; however, it is not the only factor that should determine what incidents need to be reported. Examples of accidents that require follow-up and analysis include:
- Two players going after the same fly ball collide. A player trips and falls over a bat left on the field. Even if no one is hurt, these situations could result in serious injury. Corrective measures can be taken by coaches to address field assignments, practice appropriate techniques and review the appropriate placement of equipment. An incident report submitted to the Safety Officer will serve as a warning to managers of other teams.
- A player is injured chasing a fly ball and when the outfield is inspected, a hole is found in right field. An incident report will trigger immediate corrective action and review of other fields for safety.
When an injury is severe enough to require professional services, the need for corrective measures is obvious. It is also imperative that the Safety Officer have accurate information about the injury or incident to complete the insurance claim report. Incident reports also facilitate communication between teams in a league and leagues in a district. This sharing of information enables league Safety Officers and the District Safety Officer to ensure the effectiveness of all safety programs.
When to Report
All injuries must be reported to the DLL Safety Officer within 24 hours of the incident. If the injury occurred while playing at another league’s field, the DLL Safety Officer should likewise be informed, and they will then notify the home league’s safety officer.
How to Report
All first aid kits will have a QR code (see below) on card that can be scanned to report an injury. Scanning the QR code will bring you to a google form that will need to be filled out and submitted. The Safety Officer will get the report and complete the Little League Incident/Injury tracking form. The Safety Officer will send a copy of the Incident/Injury Tracking Report form to the District 54 Safety Officer, per the district safety plan, and maintain the original on file.
If an injury/accident sustained during a Little League activity required professional medical attention, parents/guardians of the injured player are required to complete a copy of the Little League Accident Notification form. A link to the form and the instructions can be found at the bottom of this page. This form must be completed by parents/guardians (if claimant is under 19 years of age) and a league official (the Safety Officer) and forwarded to Little League Headquarters within 20 days of the accident.
Any player who is removed from play for a suspected concussion, who requires professional services for an injury, or who is out of play for 7 days or more due to an injury must present a written clearance note from a physician to the Safety Officer to return to practice or games.