Appendix L
SMITH COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT GUIDELINES
I. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION OF CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT
The Smith College Athletic Department’s Catastrophic Incident Guideline will be activated when the following catastrophic incidents (CI) occur:
1. Sudden Death of a Student-Athlete, Coach, or Staff Member
Death during competition, practice, or conditioning
Death during travel
Smith College Athletic Dept. official business
Personal (e.g. automobile, airline accidents)
Non-athletic accidents
Unknown medical anomalies (e.g. heart attack, stroke, illness)
Victim of a crime (e.g. homicide)
Suicide
2. Disability / Quality of Life Altering Injuries
Either during Smith College Athletic Department
participation and/or travel, or during non-athletic activities
Spinal Cord Injury-resulting in partial or complete paralysis
Loss of Paired Organ
Severe Head Injury
Injuries resulting in severely diminished mental capacity or other neurological injury that results in inability to perform daily functions (e.g. coma)
Irrecoverable loss of speech or hearing (both ears) or sight (both eyes) or both arms or both legs or one arm and one leg
II. IMMEDIATE ACTION PLAN
General Guidelines
Get all pertinent facts regarding the incident accurately and
expeditiously.
Accurately document all events, especially list all participants
and witnesses
Secure any or all available materials/equipment involved
Respect the dignity of the individuals involved
Only members of College Relations staff, or individuals they designate, are to speak on the incident to family members, media, other staff members, student-athletes or coaches-No one else has clearance to speak on the incident
Instruct student-athletes they are not to speak to anyone
regarding the incident
All information deemed appropriate for release to the media will be determined by Smith College Senior Administration
Home Contest, Practice, Training Session
AT Notifies Public Safety of Catastrophic Event
Dispatcher notifies Public Safety Supervisor
Public Safety Supervisor initiates necessary communication
with appropriate college administrators (see Chain of Command and Areas of Action below)
AT provides care
Coach/Administrator/Dept Personnel move participants away from scene
EMS arrives to transport injured person(s)
Coach or Dept Representative travels with injured person to hospital
Remain at hospital until relieved by assigned college personnel
Gather any available information
Notification of family members is the sole responsibility of the hospital staff. If a coach is in contact with a parent or family member, only general information should be given.
Provide updates to admin staff on campus
Away Contest, Off-Campus Practice or Training Session
If no medical staff is available, coach will activate EMS and provide first aid
If medical staff is available, coaches should follow emergency protocol of host school and assist as directed
Coach notifies Public Safety of Catastrophic Incident
Request that supervisor be notified of incident immediately
Leave personal and hospital contact information with dispatcher
Public Safety Supervisor initiates necessary communication
with appropriate college administrators (see Chain of Command and Areas of Action below)
Coach or Asst Coach travels with injured person to hospital
Remain at hospital until relieved by assigned college personnel
Gather any available information
Notification of family members is the sole responsibility of the hospital staff. If a coach is in contact with a parent or family member, information given should be general.
Provide updates to admin staff on campus
Determine if assistance is needed to get remaining travel party back to campus
Assist Admin Staff to determine exact travel party
III. CHAIN OF COMMAND AND AREAS OF ACTION:
After being informed of a catastrophic incident, the following individuals
will be notified to commence their responsibilities:
SMITH COLLEGE PUBLIC SAFETY
Dispatcher is informed of catastrophic event by head coach or AT who request that a supervisor is contacted immediately
Dispatcher is to inform supervisor (Scott Graham, Nancy Forestall, Paul Ominsky)
Supervisor informs Senior Staff, Lynn Oberbillig
If Lynn O. cannot be reached, contact
Bonnie May
Kim Bierwert
Meeting place is set for immediate gathering of above mentioned parties
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS or Department Representative
Notifies Administrative Staff of catastrophic incident and sets meeting place (classroom/Faculty Staff Lounge) for immediate gathering
Attends meeting of Senior Staff and provides direction for Admin Staff and coaches
SENIOR STAFF/DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Determine needs and plan of action
Work with Office of College Relations, Residential Life, Counseling Services, Religious Life, other available resources
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF/COACHES
Admin Staff will contact coaches, all meet at designated place
Await direction from Lynn Oberbillig or Dept Representative at Senior Staff Meeting
Station 1-2 people to handle incoming phone calls (determine “script”)
Ex. At this time we can/cannot confirm that _____ has occurred. We are attempting to gather information…)
Determine travel parties if incident occurred on team trip
Determine need for and plan for return travel of remaining team members (vans, cars)
Determine if host school staff may be available to assist
Determine if/when staff member should travel to hospital to relieve coach/asst. coach, await family members
Determine immediate needs of teammates, friends that may have gathered in athletics facilities
Determine needs, assist family members (travel, housing, meals, support)
IV. SUMMARY CHRONICLE
A detailed written summary chronicle will be prepared following any
catastrophic incident which identifies and explains the activities of those who participated in and responded to the incident
This chronicle will be used to critique the process, its efficiency and
effectiveness, and will be used as the basis for review of procedures
