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. 2019 Feb;54(2):133-141.
doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-35-18. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Emergency Preparedness of Secondary School Athletic Programs in Arizona

Tamara C Valovich McLeod  1 , Javier F Cardenas  2
Affiliations

Emergency Preparedness of Secondary School Athletic Programs in Arizona

Tamara C Valovich McLeod et al. J Athl Train. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Context: Schools that sponsor athletic programs have an obligation to provide a safe environment with appropriate policies for addressing emergencies.

Objective: To describe the emergency preparedness of secondary schools in Arizona specific to emergency action plans (EAPs), cardiac arrest, concussion, and heat illness.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Online survey.

Patients or other participants: Athletic directors from 143 Arizona secondary schools (response rate = 54%).

Intervention(s): A 6-section survey that included questions related to athletic trainer (AT) access, EAPs, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), concussion, heat illness, and other policies.

Main outcome measure(s): Descriptive statistics were reported. Comparisons of responses between schools with and without AT access were conducted with Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results: Most respondents (81%, n = 116) indicated their school had access to an AT, and 95% (n = 125) of respondents reported their school had a written EAP. The AEDs were available at most (93%, n = 121) schools. All respondents were familiar with the interscholastic concussion policy, and 98% (n = 123) indicated they had a school-specific policy. Almost all respondents (99%, n = 121) reported being familiar with the state heat-illness policy. Environmental measures were taken before practices at 48% (n = 60) of schools. Schools with access to an AT were more likely to have an EAP, venue-specific EAPs, physician approval of EAPs, AEDs, heat-illness policies, and cold-water immersion tubs and to take environmental measures.

Conclusions: Whereas the majority of schools reported AT access, not all schools had adequate EAPs in place. Schools would benefit from educational opportunities regarding best practices and policy development to improve emergency preparedness.

Keywords: athletic trainer; automated external defibrillator; concussions; emergency action plans; heat illness.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Respondents' access to other medical providers for coverage of games (n = 10). Abbreviation: EMT, emergency medical technician.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Frequency of emergency action plan review (n = 136; 7 missing).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Educational programs for student-athletes, parents, coaches, and staff/administration. a Responses in the other category included live meetings, self-developed educational sheets, athletic trainer presentations, the Arizona Interscholastic Association statement on concussions, informed consent video and a multi-modal approach, school-developed information, or a preseason coach meeting. Abbreviations: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; NFHS, National Federation of State High School Associations.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Frequency of methods used to assess environmental measures (n = 60).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Frequency of methods used to assess core body temperature (n = 101; 42 missing).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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