Emergency Plan

Serious injury requiring emergency care and transportation is inherent in athletics and can occur at any time, during any activity, and at any place.  This  emergency plan has been developed to increase preparedness by coaches and the sports medicine staff.   The emergency plan is a scripted response to emergencies occurring in the athletic venues on the campus of DePauw University.  It includes directions to DePauw’s Athletic Venues that would be provided over the phone to EMS.  Coaches will be reviewed annually on the plan and provided with a copy of the emergency plan for their specific venue.  Sports medicine staff members will review all venue plans and practice at the venues where their assigned sports compete.  The athletic trainer staffing the venue will always carry the specific emergency plan for the venue at which they are working in their medical kit. Directions to each venue will be posted by training room phones.  For sports that practice off-campus, including cross country and golf, the coach should know the location of the nearest telephone and the address she or he is calling from in the event of an emergency.  This may require pre-arranging access to a phone. Through review and practice of the plan, our responses to emergencies and care to our athletes will be expedient and prudent.    

The type and degree of event or practice coverage by the sports medicine staff for an athletic event or practice may vary widely, based on such factors as the sport or activity, the venue, and the number of teams competing.         During in-season practice and competition on campus, the first responder to an emergency situation will typically be a certified athletic trainer from the sports medicine staff. However, during the non-traditional season or other out of season times, the first responder would more likely be a coach, bystander, or other institutional personnel. Consequently certification in CPR, first aid, prevention of disease transmission, and emergency plan review is required for all athletics personnel associated with practices, competitions, skills instruction, and strength and conditioning.

Emergency Procedure            

In the case of an emergency occurring during a practice or game, a certified athletic trainer, will be responsible for implementing emergency procedures with the assistance of first responders and the team's coach(es). These procedures have been designed with the assumption that a certified athletic trainer will be present when an emergency occurs. 

If an emergency would occur at a time when a certified athletic trainers is not present, the coach or a first responder more qualified in emergency care is responsible for implementing the emergency procedures. EMS should be activated immediately while the athlete is being stabilized. If the athlete is not breathing and/or has no pulse begin CPR procedures.  A certified athletic trainer should be quickly located and directed to the athlete. When a team travels for competition, it is the responsibility of the athletic trainer or the coach (if no athletic trainer) to become familiar with the host's emergency care procedures.

Communication and Transportation

Communication is the key to quick delivery of emergency care in situations of serious injury to an athlete. When an ambulance is on site, communication prior to the event is a good way to establish boundaries and to build rapport between the sports medicine staff and emergency medical personnel.  If an ambulance is not on-site during a particular sporting event, then access to a phone for direct communication with the emergency medical system at the time of injury or illness is essential.   Phones at or around venues should be checked periodically to ensure that they are in proper working order.  When activating EMS take the following steps:

                 - Dial  911
                 - Give your name, your location, and number you are calling from
                 - Specific directions to the emergency scene
                 - Number of athletes involved
                 - Condition of athlete(s)
                 - First aid being administered
                 - Other information requested by the dispatcher
                 - Let the dispatcher hang up first

An ambulance will be on-site for all home varsity football games.  DePauw University coordinates on-site ambulance service with Operation Life Emergency Services in Greencastle, Indiana.  Ambulance services may also be coordinated for other special events (SCAC / NCAA).  In the event that an ambulance is on-site, it’s  location during the event will be pre-determined.

In the event of an emergency situation involving serious, life threatening injuries, the athlete should be transported by ambulance. It is recommended that an athletic training student, coach, or teammate accompany the injured athlete to the hospital in the ambulance.  The staff athletic trainer should remain at the sporting event / practice until it is completed. For other non-life threatening injuries, DePauw Campus Security should transport the athlete to the emergency room.  Due to personal liability, it is not our policy to routinely transport injured athletes to the emergency room or doctor’s office in personal vehicles. Only in circumstances where there is no other alternative and prompt care is needed should a staff or student transport an injured athlete. 

Emergency Equipment                                                           

All necessary emergency equipment should be available for the sporting event and quickly accessible.  All sports medicine personnel should be familiar with the function and operation of the emergency equipment.  The equipment should be in good operating condition and checked periodically for proper maintenance.  It is important to rehearse the proper techniques for the usage of the emergency equipment on a regular basis.  All equipment should be stored in a clean and environmentally controlled area and readily available in case of an emergency situation.

 

Blackstock Emergency Equipment	Lilly Center Emergency Equipment
John Deere Gator	AED
Spineboard and accessories	Spineboard and accessories
FM Extractor	Chair Stretcher
Scoop Stretcher	Evacu-Mattress
Sams Splint	Sams Splint
Air Splints	Air Splints
Vacuum Splints	Vacuum Splints
Pocket Masks	Pocket Masks
Walkie-Talkie	Walkie-Talkie
Telephones	Telephones
Training Room	Training Room
Outside Training Room Entrance	East Lilly Entry
Emergency Field Phones	Pool Deck
Sports Medicine Field Supplies	Sports Medicine Field Supplies

 

Indoor Track and Tennis

Spineboard and Accessories

Vacuum Splints/SAM Splints

Pocket Masks

Telephones

Training Room

Downstairs corridor between track and tennis

Front Security Desk

 

Conclusion

The importance of being fully prepared when athletic emergencies arise cannot be stressed enough.  An athlete’s survival may hinge not only on how well trained and prepared our sports medicine staff is but in some instances how quickly and effectively a coach or first responder acts. It is expected that all certified athletic trainers, athletic training students, and coaches know the emergency plan and be able to implement it at any venue where they are working.  The emergency plan is reviewed once a year with all athletic personnel and is displayed in the sports medicine manual and in the Athletic Department manual.  In addition, it is required that all athletic department personnel be CPR certified and trained in the use of an AED.  The athletic department offers CPR/AED instruction at the beginning and end of each school year.  Questions or uncertainties regarding the emergency plan or how it applies to a specific venue should be addressed to a sports medicine staff member.