Emergency Action Plans

GUIDE TO FIELD PROCEDURES AND EMERGENCIES

This guide is written to serve as a reference for all those who provide field coverage for practices and events of WSU-ICAA. It shall serve also as the primary tool for planned periodic review of such procedures so that all involved know what to do in the event of an emergency situation. Sport/facility specific plans may be found at the bottom of the page.

Emergency Care Plan

This plan is set into motion when a serious or catastrophic injury occurs. A serious injury is one in which it is obvious that the student-athlete will need to be hospitalized and action taken must be immediate. Examples of this are: respiratory arrest, severe bleeding, obvious fracture, possible neck or back injury, or a serious head injury.

1. Athletic Trainer in charge (seniority, chain of command) attends to the injured student-athlete and evaluates the situation and implements the following emergency action plan:
2. Athletic Trainer in charge will call or direct athletic personnel to call 911 and give the following information:
     • Your name and title
     • Nature of injuries to the student-athlete
     • Location of injured student-athlete
     • "Let EMS hang up first."
3. Athletic trainer in charge will direct athletic personnel to meet the ambulance at the entrance to the athletic facility.
4. The following will be notified in all emergency situations:
     • Head Athletic Trainer
     • Team physician (if not present)
     • Head Coach (if not present)
     • Student-Athlete parents/guardians (if not present)
     • Sport Athletic Administrator

WSU-ICAA Emergency Situation Procedures

As in all medical situations, yield to the highest medical authority. It is our desire to control these situations in an orderly, efficient, and competent manner. For example: the athletic training student or coach shall yield to the staff certified athletic trainer, who in turn shall yield to team physicians. The staff certified athletic trainer shall be ready to make recommendations as to procedure and offer assistance to physicians.

Unconscious Student-Athlete Not Breathing

1. Call for help. Dial 911, or direct athletic personnel to call 911.
2. Log roll student-athlete if prone and open airway, be ready to administer CPR.
3. Dispatch someone to help guide ambulance.

Unconscious Student-Athlete Breathing

1. Call for help. Dial 911, or direct athletic personnel to call 911.
2. Do not move student-athlete or allow student-athlete to move while assessing cause of unconsciousness. Proceed through primary and secondary survey.
3. Continue to monitor vital signs.
4. Dispatch someone to help guide ambulance.

Conscious Student-Athlete Prone Position

1. Don't move or allow the student-athlete to move.
2. Get the attention of the student-athlete and calm if necessary.
3. Determine the chief complaint and perform field exam.
4. Transport as appropriate for the situation.

Cervical Spine Injury

1. If spinal cord injury is suspected:
IF UNCONSCIOUS, follow protocol above with appropriate transportation.
If conscious, check vitals.
         a. Ask student-athlete if they have trouble breathing
         b. Ask student-athlete if they have any neck or spine pain, palpate
         c. Ask student-athlete if they have any burning, tingling, or numbness. Check sensation.
         d. Ask student-athlete if they can move their fingers and toes.
2. If positive to any of the above, stabilize the neck or spine and call for help (911).

Injury Needing Medical Attention Non Emergency

Examples possible fractures, lacerations needing suturing, other orthopedic problems needing early medical attention. Non traumatic medical problems, illness.

Refer student-athlete to a staff certified athletic trainer. If none are available page staff certified athletic trainer for advice.

For serious orthopedic problems such as a fracture, the staff certified athletic trainer will contact the team physician. If x-rays or other test are necessary then the student-athlete is referred to a medical facility by the team physician. The student-athletes primary insurance will dictate which medical facility the student-athlete is referred to. If the injury is deemed more serious, it is the desire that the student-athlete be taken the Emergency Room. The team physician shall accompany the student-athlete or shall be notified of the student-athlete injury.

For non traumatic medical problems such as illness the student-athlete should be referred to student health services or can be seen by the team physician in the athletic training facility or at their office.

Emergency equipment to be available at Venues
     • Spine Board
     • Cervical collar
     • Splints
     • Crutches
     • Pen Light
     • Communication
     • AED

Facility-Specific Emergency Action Plans

Wichita State Athletics

Events