Emergency Planning
By Fred Engh
Staff members and volunteers in youth sports have to be prepared for everything. And I do mean everything.
I’ll never forget one particular football game when a young player was tackled and immediately grabbed his shoulder as he was writhing in pain. An assistant coach ran onto the field and immediately decided the player had a separated shoulder. But anytime a coach assumes the role of physician, it becomes a dangerous situation for the athlete. So, picture this: The coach put his fist under the boy’s armpit and pushed down to pop the socket back into place. But the boy actually had a fractured arm. The break was halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. According to the lawsuit that was later filed, by pushing down on the arm, the coach completely broke the player’s arm. He was rushed to the hospital and never played again.
Currently, injuries on the playing field are the most common type of emergency, but certainly not the only one that can put lives in jeopardy in a youth-sports setting.
The volatile nature of youth sports these days requires quick thinking and smart decisions. Fights can even break out among coaches and spectators at any time—or worse.
Check out what these Certified Youth Sports Administrators (CYSAs) say regarding emergencies—both preparing for them and dealing with them:
Eduardo Martinez, a CYSA with Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces: While I was working at our baseball complex, a coach was stabbed multiple times and was hit in an arterial line. The situation was handled by first ensuring that the coach did not bleed out, first, by applying pressure to the wounds; second, by calling the police and fire rescue; third, by getting people to safety; and fourth, by securing the scene for the police to conduct their investigation. In every other instance, whether the injury is a broken bone or lacerations, we always call fire rescue. All incidents are documented accordingly. Last year, there was a drive-by shooting at the same park. The kids were immediately taken into safe places by parents, coaches, and staff members.
Our staff is trained in CPR and first aid. There are AED machines assigned to most of the regional park facilities and pools. At this time, volunteer coaches are not required to have CPR and first-aid training; however, some organizations do have those classes available for anyone who wants to take them. The one element that is preached is to call 911 and secure the scene to ensure the safety of the victim. We do conduct trainings for the parks department’s in-house programs. Field-trip supervisors are required to be trained in CPR, first-aid, and Community Water Safety. During the year, we go over other policies with community partners on topics such as lightning. Our department does not do practice runs, but we do in-service trainings for in-house staff members. By county ordinance, all coaches must pass concussion-awareness training. There are also state laws in Florida that mandate protocols for concussions. All other situations are basically handled by calling 911 and letting fire rescue personnel and police secure the scene.
Heather Jaglowski, a CYSA at the Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE) in Connecticut: Our volunteers are American Red Cross CPR/first-aid certified; they are also trained in sports-related injuries. Their training includes the Emergency Action Plan for our building, which has plans for fire-evacuation, hurricane, bomb threat, active shooter, drive-by shooting, shelter-in-place, missing child, hostile persons, custody disputes, and serious injuries. All volunteers have a need-to-know on allergies, asthma, and behavioral plans for youth on their team. Coaches carry a backpack with a complete first-aid kit and incident-reporting sheets.
Fred Engh is founder of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) in West Palm Beach, Fla. He can be reached via email at fengh@nays.org. To join more than 3,000 communities by starting a NAYS chapter, visit www.nays.org or contact Emmy Martinez at emartinez@nays.org or (800) 729-2057.