While not mandated by
law, best youth sports health and safety practices require that school, independent and
community-based youth sports organizations develop, implement, and practice an emergency action plan (EAP) to protect the safety of athletes,
spectators, coaches, and officials in case of a medical emergency.
A comprehensive EAP
should:
-
provide for on-site
recognition, evaluation and immediate treatment of injury and illness, which
can mean the difference between life and death from such conditions as heat stroke , sudden cardiac arrest , neck or cervical spine injury , or serious brain injuries .
-
designate individual(s)
to provide begin implementation of the cardiac chain of survival , including calling 911 , giving CPR and using an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) in the event a player or
spectator experiences sudden cardiac arrest , such as from a blow to the chest
causing commotio cordis .
-
list the circumstances
in which referrals to an emergency room or further evaluation by a physician
must be made (such as in the case of suspected concussion).
-
require that every team
have a cell phone, pre-programmed with emergency medical care access numbers,
at all games and practices, and that a hospital has been designated for transport.
-
designate individuals
responsible for calling EMS and provide such individual with information on how to place a call to EMS and what specific directions
to give to direct paramedics to where the game or practice is being held.
-
phone numbers at which
players parent(s) or guardians and the player's family physician can be reached
in case of emergencies.
-
a list of medical
conditions (such as asthma or allergies to nuts or bee stings) for each player.
-
medical
release/treatment authorization forms for every player.
-
identify the
individual(s) responsible for monitoring non-injured members of the team during
an emergency.
-
insure that emergency
equipment is available, and has been checked or tested to confirm it is in
working order and fully ready for use, including:
-
an AED
-
rescue inhalers, peak
flow meters (or portable spirometers) for athletes with asthma, along with a
nebulizer
-
EpiPen®for those
children with severe allergies are readily available at all times and that
coaches are educated in their use.
Posted July 24, 2015
Teaser title:
Emergency Medical Plan: Essential for Youth Sports Safety
Teaser text:
An emergency medical plan should include an established set of actions to follow in the event of a medical emergency during a youth sports practice or game.
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/calling-time-out-before-sports-helps-ensure-player-safety-athletic-trainer-group-says
[2] http://www.momsteaminstitute.org/article/prevention-and-treatment-exertional-heat-stroke
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/general/sudden-cardiac-arrest-a-disruption-of-hearts-normal-rythm
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/spinal-cord-injuries-in-sports-prevention-treatment-transport-guidelines
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/signs-requiring-immediate-hospitalization-after-concussion
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/general/chain-of-survival-for-sudden-cardiac-arrest
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/general/how-to-call-911
[8] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/general/updated-american-heart-association-cpr-guidelines
[9] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/automated-external-defibrillators-aeds/basic-information-about
[10] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/general/sudden-cardiac-arrest-a-disruption-of-hearts-normal-rhythm
[11] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/cardiac-safety/general/commotio-cordis-leads-to-sudden-cardiac-arrest
[12] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-of-experts/athletic-trainer-AT-every-school-should-have-one
[13] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-of-experts/brooke-de-lench/editorials/concussion-bill-of-rights-8-paramedics-present-at-all-football-games
[14] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/youth-sports-safety-team-approach-needed-says-nata
[15] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/management-of-asthma-in-sports