When must I call an ambulance, and what if a player is unconscious?

Any player with any of these red flags after a possible head injury should be sent urgently to hospital by ambulance (call 000): loss of consciousness, seizure or convulsion, severe or increasing headache, double vision, vomiting, deterioration of conscious state (for example increased drowsiness), neck pain or tenderness, burning, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, visible deformity of the skull, or increasingly restless, agitated or combative behaviour. If at any time there is any doubt, refer the player to hospital immediately.

For an unconscious player:

• Use DRSABCD (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation) and treat the player as though they also have a neck injury.
• Only qualified health professionals trained in spinal immobilisation, following the NRL Neck Injury and Cervical Collar Policy, should move the player onto a stretcher. If none is present, do not move the player: wait for the ambulance and paramedics.