This document outlines the components and development of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). An EAP defines the actions that medical personnel must follow in emergency situations. It should include the roles and qualifications of staff, emergency equipment locations, medical facilities, communication plans, transportation, and venue maps. EAPs can address standard injuries, weather emergencies, or traumatic events. The document provides guidance on creating venue-specific EAPs, practicing the plans, and documenting real emergency responses for improvement.

1. Emergency
Action Plan

2. EMERGENCY ACTION
PLAN (EAP)
A written document that
defines the actions that
athletic trainer and other
medical personnel must
follow if/ when emergency
situation arises.

3. What are the
components of
Emergency
Action Plan
(EAP) ?

4. Components of (EAP)
According to the (NATA) position
statement on the emergency
planning in the athletics, The EAP
should, at Minimum, comprise
those components that will give an
organization a “blueprint” to follow
in case of an athletic emergency.

5. Components of (EAP)
• The tasks, responsibilities, and qualification
of all personnel.
• The types and locations of emergency
equipment.
• Locations and types of medical facilities that
may be needed in emergency situation
• Definition of the chain of command and
communication between caregivers and
other personnel during emergency
situation.

6. Components of (EAP)
• Means of transportation to
appropriate medical facilities.
• A specific EAP for every venue/
site
• Review of the EAP legal
counsel/administrator.
• Rehearsal/ practice of the EAP

7. Types of EAP’s
EAP’s can be classified into
three distinct categories:
• Standard injury protocol
• Weather- related emergency
• Trauma/ medical emergency in
athletics

8. Standard Injury
ProtocolAn overall general action plan to address
injuries or illness that require further
attention or medical referral. This should
include procedures to determine when to
contact a physician:
• General instructions that athletes can take
home to properly care for an injury
• Information as to where the medical
records of athletes are kept and how they
are used for home and traveling events.

9. Weather- related emergency
Addresses severe weather emergencies,
from tornadoes to extreme heat and
humidity: Covered here are policies on
how to suspend and resume physical
activities based upon weather condition,
who is in charge of assessing weather-
related conditions and who is to be
notified in cases of extreme weather
events.

10. Trauma/ medical emergency in
athletics
Most specific in terms of
management. Included in this EAP
are protocols to follow in
traumatic/ medical emergencies
for all athletic venues, home and
away, for all games, practices, or
scrimmages.

11. NCAA proves guidelines in its 1998- 1999
NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook as to
minimal requirements for athletic venues.
Providing qualified persons who are
trained in CPR/ first aid
Having on- site EMS
Ensuring access to medical facilities
Having appropriate emergency equipment
and communication devices on hand
Having proper contact information readily
accessible should emergency situations
arise during athletic events

12. DEVELOPING AN EMERGENCY ACTION
PLAN
• To develop an EAP, the primary medical
personnel must plan action based upon
their sport- specific venues.
• Once the list is created, a detailed plan
for each venue can be develop.
• After the EAP is develop, it is
recommended that it be reviewed by the
organizations legal counsel and
administrator before being officially
posted and implemented.

13. Venue Communication and Personnel
• First step is to determine the location of
telephones or other communication
devices such as two-way radios or walkie
talkies.
• EAP should include instructions
pertaining to who will make phone calls
requesting emergency services
• If the venue requires that an EAP be
develop for weather related
emergencies, communication devices
such as horns or whistle.

14. • The personnel involved in
emergency care at any athletic
venue must be identifiable to
visiting coaches, official or other
administrators prior to the event.

15. • The EAP should be specific as the
roles of individuals to at each
venue. An action card can be
created and distributed that list
those who will be able, the roles
and responsibilities, and how to
contact them.

16. • This way, if an emergency
situation arises, all visiting parties
will help information at their
disposal. Included on the card
should be how to communicate
properly with EMS or 911
services.

17. Emergency Equipment
-EAP should know the types and
location of medical equipment
-fine boards, Epi-pens for allergic
reactions, buoyancy devices for pool
rescues, splints, AED’s, and other
devices for other sports specific
venues
-All medical staff should be trained in
the use of the equipment
-summon help if necessary

18. Blood-borne Pathogens
Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or
other potentially infectious materials
(OPIMs) can increase the risk of
becoming infected. Exposure to such
pathogens is common when caring
for traumatically injured athletes,
performing CPR, or in situation
where towels may be soaked with
blood.

19. BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS
Similar risk are also
involved in needle sticks
associated with
anaphylactic shock or
when insulin injections
may be required.

20. TRANSPORTATIONS
During athletic events,
emergency situations may arise
that necessitate the
transformation of an athlete to a
medical facility. Usually,
transportation involved the
activation of EMS.

21. TRANSPORTATIONS
In many instances, however, EMS
may not be available or
appropriate for each venue, the
EAP should include protocols on
how an athlete is to be
transported to medical facilities.

22. SCHEMATIC MAPS
Often helpful in EAP is a floor-
plan or hand-drawn map of the
athletic venue. A visual
representation of an athlete
venue can give medical personnel
a better idea of where emergency
equipment and services are
located, enabling quicker access.

23. SCHEMATIC MAPS
Included in the maps should
be the location of doors,
phones, emergency
equipment, ramps, elevators,
steps, or other physical
structures

24. EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN PRACTICE
AND EDUCATION
Included in the maps should
be the location of doors,
phones, emergency
equipment, ramps, elevators,
steps, or other physical
structures

25. • Once the EAP is developed for all
venues, it’s time to practice
activation of the EAP to determine
feasibility.
• Once the EAP has been developed
and determined to be feasible, it is
important to educate all parties who
will involved in its implementaion.

26. • Once the EAP has been found feasible,
practice is recommended. Practicing the
EAP with all involved parties helps to
refine skills and increase confidence in
emergency situation.
• An EAP for each venue should be
rehearsed and practice.
• Arranging for an impromptu, unexpected
scenario can be extremely beneficial for
all parties.

27. • In the event of an actual emergency
situation, a written summary of the
event is recorded. The written
documentation should contain
information such as:
• How the event occurred
• Who provide care and their roles and
responsibilities
• Complications of the implementation of
the EAP.