Emergency Medical Plans Essential For Youth Sports Safety

An emergency medical plan should include an established set of actions to follow in the event of a medical emergency during a youth sports practice or game.

The plan should identify:

• Who will provide emergency first aid, including the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED) in the event a player or spectator goes into cardiac arrest, such as from a blow to the chest causing commotio cordis

• Who and how paramedics or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will be called

• Who will monitor non-injured members of the team during an emergency

• How parents will be notified in the event of an emergency

The plan should also make sure that:

• Emergency medical devices (AEDs, asthma inhalers, EpiPens for anaphylaxis etc.) are readily available at all times and that coaches are educated in their use

• There is an adequate communication system in place at all practices and contests (i.e. cell phone)

• Emergency phone numbers and a list of medical conditions for each player are readily available at all practices and games.