A majority of sports-related injuries are minor. However, serious limb injuries and life-threatening injuries can occur without warning. Each school and sports organization needs an emergency plan that athletic trainers can enact in the event of serious injury. Preparation is the key to responding to unexpected sports emergencies, according to the National Center for Sports Safety. Having an emergency plan can save lives as well as limbs.
Written Plan
According to the National Athletic Trainer's Association, every institution and organization that sponsors an athletic team needs a written plan. The plan must be comprehensive and flexible. The plan must be in paper form. All athletic trainers, team physicians, athletic training interns, coaches, organizational leaders, institutional leaders and safety personal must receive a copy of the written plan. All plans should be made by consulting with a local emergency response team.
Facility Layout
An emergency action plan should include a detailed layout of the arena, gym or field. Emergency medical service personnel must have a designated exit and entrance. Doors should be unlocked during an event. The athletic training department should have designated keys placed in one area so that all trainers, team physicians, administrators and safety personnel are able to open the doors or gates. Emergency equipment should be easily accessible and a phone should always be nearby with a list of emergency numbers posted. Emergency numbers should include fire, emergency medical services, hospitals, gas companies, the health department, police, hazardous materials team, power companies and the poison control center.
Equipment
Athletic training offices should be fully stocked with emergency equipment. Training rooms should have first-aid kits, flashlights and fire extinguishers. Other equipment may include automatic external defibrillators and disease transmission prevention devices. Athletic trainers should also keep a file of all physical forms and medical release forms that athletes turned in at the start of the season. These forms should be easily accessible.
Communication
A clear line of communication is necessary in the event of a serious injury or other disaster. Create a chain of command that includes athletic trainers, administrators, physicians and safety personnel. Decide when emergency services should be called and who is responsible for making this phone call. Athletic training offices should also have an emergency contact list for all athletes.
Emergency Medical Services
For a home venue, a specific hospital emergency department should be designated. For home EMS services, an ambulance should be on-site or on-call. For away or neutral venues, coaches or trainers should identify the names and locations of emergency departments prior to an event. They should also be aware of EMS availability, especially in rural areas.
Follow-Up
Emergency action plans should include a follow-up plan. The athletic training department should decide which team member is responsible for filling out incident reports. A trainer should also be responsible for restocking first-aid kits.
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