Emergency Action Planning Grady J. Hardeman, M.Ed., LAT, ATC, CSCS Cabarrus County Schools Hickory Ridge High School

Objectives  Understand how an emergency action plan can benefit your school and its’ members.  Learn the essential components of a good emergency action plan.  Discover what is necessary to make it all work.

What Is An Emergency Action Plan?  A written plan that outlines how an organization or it’s designated individual will handle any life- threatening or limb-threatening emergency.

Why Is It Important?  During an emergency situations every second is critical. Can turn chaos into organized chaos.  May determine the outcome of the given situation. (This can be Life or Death)  Decrease liability of the organization or it’s designated individuals.

Essential Components  Personnel (Responsibilities and Chain of Command)  Description of life-threatening emergencies  Steps to deal with a life-threatening emergency.  Local Emergency Numbers (How to make the call)  Directions to your facility (Be Specific)  Training  Equipment

Personnel  Athletic Training Staff  First Responders  Physicians  Local EMS  Coaches  Administrators  Student Assistants  Athletes  Game Officials

Description of a Life- Threatening Emergency  Any Cardiac Emergency  Cessation of Breathing  Uncontrolled Bleeding  Altered states of Consciousness  Suspected Head, Neck, or Nerve Injury  Shock or severe allergic reaction.  Open or displaced fracture.  Severe abdominal pain and fever.  Weather related illness. (Dehydration, Lightening)

Chain of Action  What steps need to be taken when an emergency occurs? Check the injured athlete. Summon Emergency personnel. Provide any medical care that you are trained to provide. Notify other necessary personnel. Document what happened.

Local Emergency Numbers  911  Check with your local emergency medical personnel for other numbers.  Check with your school for possible workplace emergency numbers.

Directions to Your Location  These directions need to be as specific as possible. Are you at the gymnasium, football field, softball field, etc…? Are there any stairs they will have to climb?  Have specific directions posted at telephones.  Make sure that doors and gates are open.  If available send someone to meet the advanced medical team to direct them into the facility.

Training  First Aid/CPR/AED training for first responders, coaches, and student athletic trainers.

Equipment  Automated External Defibrillator  Medical Kit Gloves, Breathing Barrier, Wound Care, Splinting Material  Cell Phone With Important Emergency Numbers.  Two-Way Radio  Keys or Combinations to Doors and Gates

Making It Work  Is having an EAP enough???? NO (Remember the Three R’s)  Rehearse (annually) Re-evaluate Revise Make it a collaborative effort Share the information

Other Information  The plan should be specific for your school.

Thank You