Athletic Training

168 ATHLETIC TRAINING Among the injuries attributed to football the most common, especially among young boys, is the wrenched or sprained ankle. It should always be attended to promptly, be– cause the more the boy tries to work it off the longer time it will require to heal. When this injury is received the athlete should lie down at once, take off his shoe, and if there is any one present who knows how to strap an ankle with surgeon's plaster this should be done immediately. The plaster should be put on smoothly so that it will give the proper support to the ankle and bone. It is not necessary to have the plaster put on too tightly, but if it is done .before the ankle has had a chance to swell it will heal much more quickly. The athlete should be taken home as quickly as possible and the foot rested by placing it on a pillow, the knee and ankle being slightly elevated. In case there is a thrqbbing pain the plaster should be slit where the folds are too tight. If it is impossible to have the ankle strapped at once it should be put in a tight supporting bandage until bed– time. Then the foot should be elevated a little and put on an ice-bag, or if this is not