National federation of state high school associations sports medicine handbook

Once the importance of the emergency plan is realized and the plan has been developed, the plan must be implemented. Implementation of the emergency plan requires 3 basic steps. It is also important to have a separate plan or to modify the plan for different athletic venues and for practices and games.

Emergency team members, such as the team physician, who are present at games may not necessarily be present at practices. Moreover, the location and type of equipment and communication devices may differ among sports, venues, and activity levels.

The second step is education. All personnel should be familiar with the emergency medical services system that will provide coverage to their venues and include their input in the emergency plan. Each team member, as well as institution or organization administrators, should have a written copy of the emergency plan that provides documentation of his or her roles and responsibilities in emergency situations.

A copy of the emergency plan specific to each venue should be posted prominently by the available telephone. Third, the emergency plan and procedures have to be rehearsed. It also provides an opportunity for athletic trainers and emergency medical personnel to communicate regarding specific policies and procedures in their particular region of practice.

Reviews should be undertaken as needed throughout the sports season, because emergency medical procedures and personnel may change. Journal of Athletic Training Personnel. In an athletic environment, the first person who responds to an emergency situation may vary widely22,24; it may be a coach or a game official, a certified athletic trainer, an emergency medical technician, or a physician. This variation in the first responder makes it imperative that an emergency plan be in place and rehearsed.

With a plan in place and rehearsed, these differently trained individuals will be able to work together as an effective team when responding to emergency situations. The plan should also outline who is responsible for summoning help and clearing the uninjured from the area.

In addition, all personnel associated with practices, competitions, skills instruction, and strength and conditioning activities should have training in automatic external defibrillation and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and the prevention of disease transmission.

All necessary supplemental equipment should be at the site and quickly accessible. Improvements in technology and emergency training require personnel to become familiar with the use of automatic external defibrillators, oxygen, and advanced airways. It is imperative that health professionals and organizational administrators recognize that recent guidelines published by the American Heart Association call for the availability and use of automatic external defibrillators and that defibrillation is considered a component of basic life support.

Personnel should consider receiving appropriate training for these devices and should limit use to devices for which they have been trained. To ensure that emergency equipment is in working order, all equipment should be checked on a regular basis. Also, the use of equipment should be regularly rehearsed by emergency personnel, and the emergency equipment that is available should be appropriate for the level of training of the emergency medical providers and the venue.

Access to a working telephone or other telecommunications device, whether fixed or mobile, should be ensured. A back-up communication plan should be in effect in case the primary communication system fails. A listing of appropriate emergency numbers should be either posted by the communication system or readily available, as well as the street address of the venue and specific directions cross streets, landmarks, and so on Table.

The emergency plan should encompass transportation of the sick and injured. Emphasis should be placed on having an ambulance on site at high-risk events. Consideration should be given to the level of transportation service that is available eg, basic life support, advanced life support and the equipment and training level of the personnel who staff the ambulance.

In an emergency situation, the athlete should be transported by ambulance to the most appropriate receiving facility, where the necessary staff and equipment can deliver appropriate care. Venue Location. The emergency plan should be venue specific, based on the site of the practice or competition and the activity involved Table. The plan for each venue should encompass accessibility to emergency personnel, communication system, equipment, and transportation. At home sites, the host medical providers should orient the visiting medical personnel regarding the site, emergency personnel, equipment available, and procedures associated with the emergency plan.

At away or neutral sites, the coach or athletic trainer should identify, before the event, the availability of communication with emergency medical services and should verify service and reception, particularly in rural areas. In addition, the name and location of the nearest emergency care facility and the availability of an ambulance at the event site should be ascertained.

Emergency Care Facilities. The emergency plan should incorporate access to an emergency medical facility. In selection of the appropriate facility, consideration should be given to the location with respect to the athletic venue.

Consideration should also include the level of service available at the emergency facility. The designated emergency facility and emergency medical services should be notified in advance of athletic events. Furthermore, it is recommended that the emergency plan be reviewed with both medical facility administrators and in-service medical staff regarding pertinent issues involved in athlete care, such as proper removal of athletic equipment in the facility when appropriate. A written emergency plan should be reviewed and approved by sports medicine team members and institutions involved.

If multiple facilities or sites are to be used, each will require a separate plan. Additional documentation should encompass the following15, 1. Follow-up documentation on evaluation of response to emergency situation 3. Documentation of regular rehearsal of the emergency plan 4. Documentation of personnel training 5. Documentation of emergency equipment maintenance It is prudent to invest organizational and institutional ownership in the emergency plan by involving administrators and sport coaches as well as sports medicine personnel in the planning and documentation process.

The emergency plan should be reviewed at least annually with all involved personnel. Any revisions or modifications should be reviewed and approved by the personnel involved at all levels of the sponsoring organization or institution and of the responding emergency medical services.

A well-thought-out emergency plan consists of a number of factors, including, but not necessarily limited to, personnel, equipment, communication, transportation, and documentation.

Finally, all sports medicine professionals, coaches, and organizational administrators share professional and legal duties to develop, implement, and evaluate emergency plans for sponsored athletic activities. Principles of Athletic Training. Dolan MG. Emergency care: planning for the worst. Athl Ther Today. Considerations for the athletic trainer in planning medical coverage for short distance road races. J Athl Train. Preparing for sudden emergencies.

Shea JF. Duties of care owed to university athletes in light of Kleinecht. J Coll Univ Law. Halpin T, Dick RW. Brown GT. NCAA group raising awareness on medical coverage. NCAA News. Sports Medicine Handbook. Dempsey CW. Athletic Training Educational Competencies. Herbert DL. Do you need a written emergency response plan? Sports Med Stand Malpract Rep. Rubin A. Emergency equipment: what to keep on the sidelines.

Physician Sportsmed. Appenzeller H. Managing Sports and Risk Management Strategies. Rankin JM, Ingersoll C. Athletic Training Management: Concepts and Applications.

Legal Aspects of Sports Medicine. Kleinknecht v Gettysburg College, F2d 3rd Cir Gathers v Loyola Marymount University. Case No. C, Los Angeles Super Court settled Hanson v Kynast, NE2d Oh Kleiner DM.

Emergency management of athletic trauma: roles and responsibilities. Emerg Med Serv. Courson RW, Duncan K. Establishing communication with EMTs.

NATA News. June —9. Waeckerle JF. Planning for emergencies. American Heart Association. Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care: international consensus on science. Curr Emerg Cardiovasc Care. Academic Writing Help. Homework Writing Help. Order Now Contact Us. We Can Help you with this Assignment right now! Writing Features. Experienced Writers. Affordable Prices. Unlimited and Free Revision.

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