Mount Saint Mary College Policies, Protocols and Emergency Action Plans
Emergency situations can occur at any time during athletic events. Expedient action is necessary in order to provide the best possible medical care to athletes involved in an emergency or potentially life-threatening situation. The development of a concise emergency plan will allow the best possible care to be given.
The National Athletic Training Association (NATA) released a position statement (2008) that states injuries from cold exposure are due to a combination of low air or water temperatures and the influence of wind on the body’s ability to maintain a core temperature.
Heat illnesses can occur at almost any time, even in cooler temperatures, as they are related to air temperature, the percentage of humidity, the amount of wind, the conditioning level of the athlete, the amount of clothing and equipment s/he wears, his/her history of heat illness, use of supplements, drugs (over-the-counter, prescription, recreational), and alcohol. Therefore, the key to these injuries is prevention.
A lightning policy is a necessary and crucial element to medical coverage at sporting events. A proper policy will ensure detection, evacuation, and return to play criteria in the event of severe weather and lightning. These policies are used to ensure the safety of the players, coaches, etc. The policies were developed based on NCAA and NATA guidelines.
