Child and Adolescent Clinic - School Emergencies

Ask Dr. Sue

SCHOOL EMERGENCIES

Dear Dr. Sue,

Recently I read an article stating something to the effect that nationally most schools don't have an adequate emergency plan for injuries at sporting events. I'm concerned my children's school may be following the trend. What should such a plan entail?

Concerned Parent

Dear Concerned Parent,

It seems as though we have had more than our share of serious injuries at athletic events in the last couple of years. I don't know whether any of the area high schools and middle schools have emergency medical plans, but I would strongly advise each of them to develop such a plan.

The emergency plan should consist of three parts:

Personnel
Communication, including clear and concise directions to each location
Equipment

PERSONNEL. Each available person's role in an emergency should be understood before the emergency arises. The first step is the emergency care of the athlete. This care should be provided by the most qualified person available, which may be a physician or nurse in the audience, EMT personnel on site at some events, or the coach. The second step involves going and getting any necessary equipment, including first aid kits, splints, or whatever might be needed and available. Several people should be made aware of the location of all such equipment. If it becomes clear that emergency transport will be needed, a team member who remains calm under pressure will be needed to call 911. (This decision must be made quickly and the EMS system activated promptly when needed, as time can be a critical factor in determining the outcome in some injuries.) A fourth person should be ready to meet the EMS vehicle when it arrives, direct them through any necessary gates, and lead them to the injured person.

COMMUNICATION. At any athletic setting, whether home or away, someone must ensure that there is immediate access to a workable telephone.

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. All available equipment should be stored in a clean and dry area and should be readily available when the need arises. There are no specific guidelines regarding what type of equipment is appropriate, but at the minimum a well-equipped first aid kit should be on hand.

The actual written plan simply details all of the above for each particular setting. The following template is from the University of Georgia Sports Medicine Staff, but would be equally appropriate for use at the high school level:

Emergency personnel: name the available persons, and their level of emergency medical training.
Emergency communication: fixed telephone line location and its phone number
Emergency equipment: supplies are kept in_______________________________. List supplies.
Roles of First Responders:
Immediate care of the injured or ill student-athlete.
Emergency equipment retrieval.
Activation of EMS: Call 911, giving specific directions as listed below.
Direction of EMS to scene
Open appropriate gates
Designate individual to "flag down" EMS and direct to scene
Scene control: limit scene to first aid providers and move bystanders away from area
Venue Directions: (be very specific, i.e. the baseball field is located on the corner of __________ and __________ , adjacent to __________ . Two gates provide access to this field; the gate located at __________ will be unlocked for access. The locker room is reached most easily by taking __________ .

OR, the high school has multiple entrances. The entrance by the__________ provides the
easiest access to both the gymnasium and the locker rooms, and is reached by taking __________ road.
Venue Map: Insert a map of the school with the appropriate area highlighted.

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