Emergency Action Plan
Learn how to create your own Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to take with you to games.
An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a plan designed by coaches to assist them in responding to emergency situations. The idea behind having such a plan prepared in advance is that it will help you respond in a responsible and clear-headed way if an emergency occurs.
An EAP should be prepared for the facility or site where you normally hold practices and for any facility or site where you regularly host competitions. For away competitions, ask the host team or host facility for a copy of their EAP. Keep this important record in your first-aid kit.
An EAP can be simple or elaborate but should cover the following items:
- Designate in advance who is in charge in the event of an emergency (this may very well be you).
- Have a cell phone with you and make sure the battery is fully charged. If this is not possible, find out exactly where a telephone that you can use is located. Have spare change in the event that you need to use a pay phone.
- Have on hand a medical profile for each participant, so that this information can be provided to emergency medical personnel. Include in this profile a signed consent from the parent/ guardian to authorize medical treatment in an emergency.
- Prepare directions to provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to enable them to reach the site as rapidly as possible. You may want to include information such as the closest major intersection, one-way streets, or major landmarks.
- Have a first-aid kit accessible and properly stocked at all times (all coaches are strongly encouraged to pursue find aid training).
- Designate in advance a “call person” (the person who makes contact with medical authorities and otherwise assists the person in charge). Be sure that your call person can give emergency vehicles
