Is Your Team Prepared for an Emergency?

By Rachel Evan, ATC
Athletic Trainer
MUSC Health Sports Medicine

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in sports is simply a plan/guidebook for what happens when an additional emergency service is needed, such as paramedics. In sports this plan will not cover broad topics such as law enforcement, but will instead focus on medical situations and spell out next steps and who is responsible for those steps in simple terms. Most EAPs will cover each venue a team or school might use for practice or home venue games. This plan will include direct contacts in the event of an emergency, such as a school administrator, as well as who is responsible for calling 911, what routes an ambulance should take, and who is responsible for keys to open gates or doors that may be locked, as well as the location of the AED and other essential medical supplies.

This plan is essential because it saves time in an emergency and clarifies what actions to take. This enables everyone to complete assigned steps smoothly and quickly, saving valuable time that might otherwise be lost in an emergency. Searching for keys or appropriate directions that are not communicated to EMTs can cost critical seconds in an emergency and are simple oversights that could be avoided by having a well-thought-out plan in place.

Coaches, administrators, and team doctors, in addition to medical staff, should have access to this plan and should take time at least once a year to review the Emergency Action Plan to clarify any questions and role responsibilities contained within the plan. Having an EAP and ensuring that it is updated and reviewed with medical staff and coaches annually is important because it helps prevent simple time-costing misunderstandings and ensures the best possible outcome in a true emergency. If coaches, school personnel and med staff are all aware the location of the AED and the keys for the ambulance gate, injured athletes are much more likely to get the care they need as quickly as possible. This also helps coaches and Athletic Trainers on the scene to feel more comfortable and better prepared to perform their job in situations when additional first responders or equipment may be needed very rapidly.

Although most schools are required to have this plan in place, it is essential that community events and sports organizations should have an Emergency Action Plan in place as well. This plan should be shared with coaches and administrators within that organization. If you are unsure if your community programs or sports organizations have an Emergency Action Plan, check with your coaches and program administrators. They should be able to help you make sure that everyone is safe and well trained in the event of an emergency.