1. Emergency Action Plans
PHED 120
Fall ‘12

2. What is an EAP?
A plan of action that is put into place when life-threatening injuries or illness occurs
Multiple reasons needed
Ensure high quality of care
Minimize the time needed to provide an immediate response to a life-threatening emergency
Legal issues

3. Factors to Consider Development and implementation of an EAP
The sports medicine staff and emergency team
Initial patient assessment and care
Emergency communication
Emergency equipment and supplies
Venue location(s)
Emergency transportation
Emergency care facilities
Legal need and documentation

4. Components to Preparation
Emergencies can occur during any activity
Need:
Development of an EAP
Proper coverage of athletic events and practices
Maintenance of emergency equipment and supplies
Selection of appropriate personnel as part of the sports medicine team
Continuing education of the sports medicine team

5. Sports Medicine Team Athletic Trainer Team Physician Coach
First responder and immediate care
Team Physician
Coach
First responder and activates EMS
Athletic Training Student
First responder and equipment retrieval

6. Four main roles Within the emergency team are as follows:
Immediate care of the patient
Emergency equipment retrieval (aed)
Activate EMS
Direction of EMS to scene of emergency
Typically, the athletic trainer is in charge of this

7. Immediate Patient Care
Check
The scene to make sure it is safe to aid the patient
The scene to find evidence on what happened
The patient for airway, breathing, circulation, fractures, and bleeding
Call
911 or the local EMS number
Give proper directions and meet ambulance at scene
Care
Calm and reassure patient
Reassess and monitor all vital signs
Control any bleeding
Provide CPR/AED and appropriate first aid as needed

8. Emergency Communication
When calling 911provide:
Name, address and phone number
Number of patients involved in emergency
Condition of patient(s)
Treatment initiated by members of the emergency team
Specific directions to the scene

9. Emergency Equipment For athletic events
All emergency equipment must be on hand
Football vs. golf
AED
Spineboard
Splints
Bag-valve mask
Oxygen (as needed)
Proper personal protection devices
Gloves, etc

10. Emergency Transportation
EAP should include a policy for transportation
Most likely should be transported by ambulance
High risk sports
Don’t take the personal risk of bringing a critically injured patient in your own personal vehicle
Lawsuits!

11. Emergency Care Facilities
EAP needs to include hospital information
Quickest hospital
Trauma hospital (Albany/Pittsfield) vs. Community hospital (North Adams)
Not an urgent care
Patient has a right to choose as well

12. Legal Need and Documentation
Lawsuits
University of Central Florida
University of Louisville
High schools
Too many to list!
Documentation
Most colleges/universities have policies in place
At the higher administrative levels
Need to find out what that policy is and follow it!

13. Before the season starts…
Review EAP with:
Coaches
Athletic Training Students
Any other support staff
Managers, etc
Local EMS personnel
Give them a copy of EAP (enough for each station/vehicle)
Post EAP
Online
At every venue

14. Examples of EAP’s MCLA Williams College Southern Vermont College
Concord University
Find two EAP’s on your own for next class and submit the links to them on Canvas