Update After 22 Years?

An update to a 22-year-old document! Maybe the tides are turning!

National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Emergency Action Plan Development and Implementation in Sport

The position statement recommends:

Framework for emergency action plan development and implementation.

Designating an emergency action plan coordinator who collaborates with other athletic staff, enhancing venue-specific plans to include variables for each sport and comprehensive documentation of incidents.

This includes recommendations for the preparations and on-site emergency response of health care professionals and other stakeholders to catastrophic or potentially catastrophic injuries in a pre-hospital setting.

General guidelines for teams to tailor to their specific settings and best use of resources.

Integration of a pre-event medical meeting, an informational session previously termed "medical timeout" that will occur before a competition and provide details on emergency procedures and signals, and equipment locations.

Incorporating the distinct needs of various sports in relation to the skills of assigned personnel and any changes in facilities, such as new construction.

Given that life-threatening emergencies may occur at any time and place, with or without athletic trainers on site, it is critical that athletic programs not rely solely on health care team members to develop and execute the EAP.

Samantha E. Scarneo-Miller et al, National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Emergency Action Plan Development and Implementation in Sport, Journal of Athletic Training (2024). DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0521.23

Shelby 7/2024