Are you ready? Emergency action plans for the injured athlete Aaron D. McDonald, EdS, LAT Calcasieu Parish School Board/ Lake Charles Memorial Hospital

Why are Emergency action Plans (EAP) important? Emergency action plans provide guidelines and templates for documentation of emergency planning to help prepare individuals for a catastrophic injury situation within sports. The top causes of sudden death in sport: cardiac, head injuries, exertional sickling, asthma, anaphylaxis, direct trauma, and weather related incidents

EAPs – Best Practice Recommendations Every school should develop an EAP for each of its venues Every EAP should be developed and coordinated with local EMS, public safety, on site medical personnel and sit administration. All staff members should have a written copy of the EAP. EAP specific to each venue should include maps, specific directions and marked locations of on-site emergency equipment.

EAPs – Best Practice Recommendations (cont.) EAP should identify key personnel and their responsibilities, as well as chain of command. Should specify documentation actions that need to be taken post emergency. EAP should be reviewed and rehearsed annually by all parties involved.

Implementation Sequence Essential framework Key Personnel Basic Equipment Implementation Sequence

Key personnel Athletic Trainers Coaches Administrators Emergency Medical Services Security Custodial Staff Parents that are willing to assist

Basic Equipment Keys Laminated EAP Postings CPR/AED/FA Training for Coaches First Aid Kits AEDS and other Medical Emergency Equipment

Implementation sequence Identify what you do well and are already prepared for Identify what you can improve upon Increase knowledge by reviewing example documents Consider who your “key personnel” are Consider all possible venues

Implementation sequence (cont.) Draft a general EAP Have several people review the EAP Create a final EAP Post the EAP in several different locations Revisit EAP and rehearse annually

NOT A GOOD PLAN…

A good Plan…

“Time out” The NATA recommends a “TIME OUT” system be adopted for athletic health care. The purpose of the TIME OUT is to go through a pre-event checklist reviewing the venue’s emergency action plan with all athletic health care professionals on the emergency response team. Helps to produce a decisive, coordinated emergency response and outcome and is critical to ensure the athlete receives the best care should an emergency arise.

Time out checklist Athletic healthcare providers meet before start of event to review EAP Determine roles and locations of providers Establish how communication will occur, means of communication, back up methods Location of ambulance, routes for entry/exit, means for calling ambulance if none present Designated hospital determined Presence, location and working order of emergency equipment Assess potential impacts on EAP (construction, weather, crowd flow, etc.)

questions? Aaron McDonald aaron.mcdonald@cpsb.org 337-217-4290 ext. 3501