∞KATY ISD EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN FOR ATHLETICS
Introduction
Emergency situations may arise at any time during athletic events. Expedient action must be taken in order to
provide the best possible care to the sport participant of emergency and/or life threatening conditions. The
development and implementation of an emergency plan will help ensure that the best care will be provided.
As emergencies may occur at any time and during any activity, all school activities workers must be prepared.
Athletic organizations have a duty to develop an emergency plan that may be implemented immediately when
necessary and to provide appropriate standards of emergency care to all sports participants. As athletic injuries may
occur at any time and during any activity, the sports medicine team must be prepared. This preparation involves
formulation of an emergency plan, proper coverage of events, maintenance of appropriate emergency equipment and
supplies, utilization of appropriate emergency medical personnel, and continuing education in the area of emergency
medicine and planning. Hopefully, through careful pre-participation physical screenings, adequate medical coverage,
safe practice and training techniques and other safety avenues, some potential emergencies may be averted.
However, accidents and injuries are inherent with sports participation, and proper preparation on the part of the sports
medicine team should enable each emergency situation to be managed appropriately.
Components of the Emergency Plan
These are the basic components of every emergency action plan for athletics:
1. Emergency Personnel
2. Emergency Communication
3. Emergency Equipment
4. Roles Of Licensed Athletic Trainers, Student Trainers, Coaches, And Administrators
5. Venue Directions
Emergency Plan Personnel
With athletic practice and competition, the first responder to an emergency situation is typically a member of the
athletic staff, most commonly a coach or athletic trainer. The type and degree of sports medicine coverage for an
athletic event may vary widely, based on such factors as the sport or activity, the setting, and the type of training or
competition. Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), athletic safety, prevention of disease transmission,
and emergency plan review is required annually for all athletics personnel associated with practices, competitions,
skills instruction, and strength and conditioning.
The development of an emergency plan cannot be complete without the formation of an emergency team. The
emergency team may consist of a number of healthcare providers including physicians, emergency medical
technicians, certified athletic trainers; student athletic trainers; coaches; parents; and, possibly, other athletes and
bystanders. Roles of these individuals within the emergency team may vary depending on various factors such as
the number of members of the team, the athletic venue itself, or the preference of the head coach or head athletic
trainer. There are four basic roles within the emergency team. The first and most important role is establishing safety
of the scene and immediate care of the athlete. Acute care in an emergency situation should be provided by the most
qualified individual on the scene. In instances that an athletic trainer is available, this role will be assumed by the
athletic trainer. The second role, EMS activation, may be necessary in situations where emergency transportation is
not already present at the sporting event. This should be done as soon as the situation is deemed an emergency or a
life-threatening event. Time is the most critical factor under emergency conditions. Activating the EMS system may
be done by anyone on the team. However, the person chosen for this duty should be someone who is calm under
pressure and who communicates well over the telephone. This person should also be familiar with the location and
address of the sporting event. The third role, equipment retrieval may be done by anyone on the emergency team
who is familiar with the types and location of the specific equipment needed. Student athletic trainers, coaches, and
athletes are good choices for this role. The fourth role of the emergency team is that of directing EMS to the scene.