It’s no doubt that the NFL has been a sport of injuries due to its harsh plays. And that’s the reason, every player wants to stay fit and avoid injuries in such cases. But injuries are an unfortunate reality that almost every player dreads. With every hit, tackle, and sprint, there’s a constant risk of injury. And if something happens to a player, you have likely seen them taken into the blue medical tent. So, what’s this tent all about? Why is it being used in the league?

Well, you can consider medical blue tents as the first step of an injury evaluation to a player. Although it’s not first in the true sense, the top priority at that crucial time is to check if there is an urgent medical situation that needs immediate attention or hospitalization. Once it’s clear there’s no emergency, the next step is to take the player off the field and into the blue medical tent.

The blue medical tent, introduced in 2017, provides a private space where the medical team can focus on the injuries of a player without distractions from the game, crowd, or media. Inside, they can examine the player’s injury in a quiet, controlled environment, with curtains down, ensuring they understand the full extent of the issue. And the major objective of those medical staff at that moment is to get players back in the game.

Well, as these tents are easily visible from the stands and are large enough to fit the injured player, a training table, and the necessary medical staff, the inside still remains a bit of a mystery for fans. It is because till now no footage recorded inside has been made public. However, as per reports, it’s clear that the evaluations in the tent are thorough, with advanced equipment like video booths to review and analyze plays for potential injuries that may have been missed on the field.

Hence, no doubt, blue tent has been a major success in ensuring players get quick treatment, starting in 2017 when New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower was the first to use it after sustaining a knee injury. Since then, almost every player who has been injured during a game, has followed. But what exactly happens during the evaluation of an injury in the tent?

How medical tents help the injured players?

According to OSU alum Dr. George Matic, when a player is injured during a game, the sports medicine team on the sidelines evaluates the situation. If the injury seems serious, the medical team in the tent is already prepared for further assessment. Inside the tent, the focus is on determining the location, cause, and severity of the Injury. The main concern is ensuring it’s not life-threatening and whether the player can safely return to the game.

For this, the team uses various techniques, including physical exams, to check the player’s condition. And if necessary, treatments like injections, numbing agents, or anti-inflammatories can also be used to help manage pain and reduce inflammation. Not only that! Sometimes, additional padding is also provided to protect the injured area. All these are done at the moment if necessary, because the ultimate goal of the medical tent doctors is always to get the player back in the game safely. But only if it’s clear that they won’t risk further injury.

But that doesn’t mean when the player is out for the game, medical staff do not keep a check on them. Yes, they do! The medical team still closely monitors the player throughout the rest of the game to ensure their safety.

Besides it, also check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders.