A. Acute care to be provided by the most qualified individual at the scene.
B. Emergency equipment retrieval: anyone familiar with the types and location of equipment (usually: student athletic trainer, coach, event staff)
C. Activation of EMS-should be a person familiar with location and address of injury site. Should be a calm person with good communication skills.
D. A person will meet and direct emergency personnel to the scene. Keys to gates, doors, etc. should be on hand (Facility management staff should be involved).

Attached are emergency action plans for the game, practice fields, and facilities used by UVM varsity athletic teams. 

 

During all varsity athletic competitions, emergency equipment is on-site for event. Outside of competition, location of emergency equipment will be in the Patrick Athletic Medicine or Gutterson Athletic Medicine Facilities.

Emergency Equipment 

Biohazard / First Aid Kit 

Important Phone Numbers 
Campus Rescue:  911 (Campus Phone) or 802.656.3473 
UVM Medical Center Emergency Room: 802.847.2434 
Patrick Athletic Training Facility: 802.656.7750 
Gutterson Athletic Training Facility: 802.656.9951 

In the event of an injury:

1. Athletic trainer on site will decide if the injury requires EMS. In the event an athletic trainer is unavailable; the highest-ranking staff member will assume responsibility for care of the athlete. This person will be referred to from here as the 'Responsible Party.' Order of rank will be: head coach, assistant coach, and team captain. Always consider potential for spinal cord injury when moving an injured athlete. Under no circumstances will the Responsible Party leave the injured athlete unless relieved by an ATC, team physician or EMS.
2. The Responsible Party is to perform Emergency CPR, AED and/or First Aid as appropriate and retrieval of emergency equipment and supplies should be performed by another member of the emergency care team.
3. Activate EMS for all emergencies including, but not limited to:
   1. Possible head, neck or back injury
   2. Exertional or non-exertional collapse (such as cardiac arrest, heat-related illness, sickle cell crisis, asthma, rhabdomyolysis, or diabetic emergencies)
   3. Compound or displaced fracture(s) or major joint dislocation(s)
   4. Loss or altered consciousness
   5. If an athlete stops breathing or has no pulse
   6. Excessive bleeding
4. The Responsible Party, while attending to the athlete, will designate the next ranked individual to contact EMS.
5. Upon contacting EMS, this person should identify themselves to the EMS personnel, give a clear description of the situation and provide directions to the location of the athlete.
   1. The description of the situation should include: the status of the athlete (level of consciousness), mechanism of injury, other symptoms, age of athlete and the telephone number and location from which you are calling. DO NOT hang up until EMS directs you to do so.
6. This person or designate will then proceed to unlock the appropriate doorways/gates and meet EMS at the entrance to the site and prepare to give a brief description of the situation to the EMS crew.
7. Once EMS has stabilized and readied the athlete for transport, the person making the telephone call will accompany the injured person to the emergency room, if possible. This person will be responsible for contacting the supervising AT or team physician with information on the status of the injured athlete as soon as it is known.
8. The parents of the athlete may be notified of the injury only with permission of the athlete. An emergency contact should be notified in the event of transporting a student-athlete who is unconscious or has significantly altered mental status.
9. The Certified Athletic Trainer should fill out and properly file all appropriate injury forms and perform all appropriate follow-up procedures such as contacting the team physician, head athletic trainer, coaches, and Athletic Department with updated reports of the situation as indicated.

In the interest of the athlete's right to confidentiality, under no circumstances are any individuals allowed to discuss the incident or circumstances surrounding it with anyone outside the UVM Athletic Medicine Staff without the student-athlete's permission. This includes the media, other athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans, etc. If asked, politely respond, "I'm sorry, I'm not at liberty to discuss this" and refer them to the Athletic Medicine head athletic trainer or team physician.

 

• In the event of a cardiopulmonary emergency, the emergency system should be activated as quickly as possible either by calling 911 or (802) 656-3473, if using cell phone.
• The first responders should provide initial care as appropriate to the situation and coordinate with other emergency medical service providers upon their arrival in the provision of CPR, defibrillation, basic life support, and advanced life support.
• The AED units are programmed to administer one shock if an abnormal cardiac rhythm is detected. The shock will be followed by two minutes of CPR. If the abnormal cardiac rhythm persists, one shock followed by two minutes of CPR will be continued until a normal cardiac rhythm is detected by the AED. The staff will continue the course of care until an abnormal cardiac rhythm is no longer present, the patient converts to a perfusing rhythm, or an advanced life support team arrives on the scene and assumes control. To prepare for ECG analysis and defibrillation:·
  • If available, send someone to get AED immediately upon encountering patient that appears to be unconscious
  • Verify the patient is unconscious
  • Check for signs of life (breathing and circulation)
  • Open the lid to activate the AED
  • Follow the voice commands
  • Prepare the patient for electrode placement and place electrodes
  • Again follow the voice command
  • If no shock is advised, check to see if patient is breathing and has a pulse and provide care based on those findings
  • Continue care/monitoring the person until emergency personnel relieves you.

• After an event requiring use of the AED, the course of care during the event will be reviewed by the Athletic Medicine Head Athletic Trainer and the Emergency Room physician who receives the patient. A written report will be completed by the staff member involved and a report will be submitted to the Athletic Medicine Head Athletic Trainer, Director of the Center for Health and Wellbeing and the Quality Improvement Committee.

  Reminders

  1. The AED can be used on all individuals, including those under eight years of age and weighing less than 90 pounds.

  2. Don't forget BASIC steps: Check—Call—Care

  3. Activate EMS – 911 or (802)656-3473 from cell phone

  4. It is safe to use on metal bleachers, ice and wet surface (but not submerged in water) as long as there is no contact with the patient. There is potential to feel a mild, non-harmful shock.

  5. A post event review will take place with the medical director, team physician, and the entire athletic medicine staff after any incident in which the AED was used. The purpose is to review the situation and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the emergency plan.