Injury/Illness Emergency Protocol
The following procedures are to be carried out by an appropriately trained certified athletic trainer (ATC) or athletic training student(s) in the event of injury or illness to a student-athlete. In the event that an ATC or athletic training student is not available on-site at a specific practice or event, the head coach and/or designee shall perform the duties listed below.
- Contests and practices hosted at Smith College or "home" sites:
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES:
Cardiac Arrest
Breathing cessation
Severe bleeding
Concussion with loss of consciousness
Suspected neck or spinal injury
Open or displaced fracture, fracture to major bone
Dislocation of a major joint
Life threatening heat related illness
Anaphylactic Shock
Internal Injury (abdominal or thoracic)
Any other injury or illness resulting in poor vital signs such as decreased blood pressure, weak pulse, or signs of shock
- Follow the Emergency Action Principles (first aid principles) and provide appropriate care.
- Activate the emergency medical system (EMS) by calling Public Safety Dispatch via campus telephone at ext. 800 or contacting athletic training staff member via the portable two-way radio. If using a cell phone, dial 585-2490. Provide EMS with the following information:
- Identify yourself and your role in the emergency
- Specify your location and telephone number (if calling by phone)
- Give name(s) of injured/ill athlete(s)
- Give condition of injured/ill athlete(s)
- Give time of accident
- Give care being provided
- Give specific directions to the scene of the emergency
- Do not hang up until directed to do so by the EMS dispatcher
- Monitor vital signs.
- Calm and reassure the athlete.
- Notify an ATC as soon as possible.
- Provide follow-up care as necessary.
NON-EMERGENCIES (sprains, strains, concussion [with no loss of consciousness], illness, abrasions, minor cuts, contusions)
- Provide appropriate first aid care.
- Notify the ATC if not already present.
- Send the athlete to the appropriate medical care facility (if unable to contact an ATC and/or unsure of the severity of the injury).
- Provide follow-up care as necessary.
- In the event an athlete is ill or injured and is transported to a hospital/emergency facility while participating in a college sponsored event off campus, the following guidelines should be followed:
- Notify Smith College Public Safety of the athlete's name, a brief description of the injury/illness, and the name and telephone number of the hospital/emergency facility where the athlete has been transported.
- Public Safety will receive all phone calls from parents or guardians and refer them to the hospital/emergency facility as appropriate.
- It is the responsibility of the hospital/emergency facility to notify the athlete's parents or guardians with the latest and most accurate information concerning his/her condition.
- NOTE: When a team/program practices or hosts contests AT "HOME" SITES which are LOCATED OFF-CAMPUS (e.g. crew, skiing) the same guidelines as outlined above should be followed. It is imperative that the ATC, or in the absence of the ATC, the head coach locate the nearest accessible telephone on-site prior to beginning the practice or contest. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 911 (or appropriate emergency telephone number) to summon EMS personnel and follow Medical Emergency guidelines above. If injury appears to be non-emergent, make arrangements to have the athlete transported back to the athletic training room for further assessment and treatment as soon as possible but provide necessary first aid immediately on-site.
- For contests and practice occurring AWAY FROM the Smith College:
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
- Follow the Emergency Action Principles (first aid principles) and provide appropriate care.
- Ask for the host ATC and follow the host institution's emergency action plan.
- If athlete must be transported to an emergency facility, find out what facility they will be going to and then make arrangements with the Smith College head coach to pick up the athlete after the contest ends.
- Do not travel via EMS transport to the emergency facility with the athlete. Staying with the rest of the team is the priority. In the event that an assistant coach or designee is available, it is permissible to accompany the injured/ill athlete to the emergency facility if requested by the athlete or head coach.
- Notify an ATC at Smith College as soon as possible.
NON-EMERGENCIES (able to return to Smith College without immediate medical care)
- Provide appropriate first aid care.
- Return to Smith College and follow non-emergency management protocols established for home events.
- Notify an ATC at Smith College upon returning.
MISCELLANEOUS
- In the event of hospitalization or surgery, hospital personnel would notify the athletes' parent(s) or guardian(s) as necessary and appropriate. Medical confidentiality will and must be maintained in all cases.
- Athletes who have been referred to the Smith College Health Services or other health care provider will not be allowed to return to participation until the attending health care provider has given appropriate clearance.
