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Fall Sports Reminders

Posted: 8/1/2017

As fall sports begin to swing into action, several reminders:

Acclimatization.  The acclimatization plan must be followed for the football practices.  It is located online:  http://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Health/WIAA-ACCLIMATIZATION.pdf.   Please remember the change for 10th day and two-a-days.  There are also FAQ's online:  http://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Health/Acclimatization%20FAQ.pdf.  Basically, a during a practice, a one half-hour recovery period must be taken and it may not be broken into segments.  It is one-half hour.  In addition, no practice segment may be longer than two hours without a one-half hour recovery break.  Physical activity includes stretching, warming up, and any other activity associated with football practice whether inside or outside.  The only exception is weight room which includes actual lifting exercises.  The acclimatization plan is applied to all players individually.  For preseason information, visit the Football Rules and Regulations page.  More information for safer two-a-days is also available.

 

Player on player contact. The rules are in effect for this fall.  Again the information is online:  http://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Health/WIAA%20Football%20Player%20on%20Player%20Contact.pdf.  Coaches be able to identify their contact drills on their practice schedule.  I recommend labeling the type of contact on the practice schedule.  This is not to be counted by individuals, but rather by time periods.  The differences between the player on player contact practice drills (air, bags, and wrap) and competition/full drills (thud and live) is the determination of the outcome of the drills.  With the unlimited practice drills, the coach knows and determines the outcome of the drills.  In the competition drills, the players’ actions, reactions, and counteractions determine the outcome and the competition drills (thud and live) will be limited.  Most coaches currently using thud drills (as many may call the drills right now) are probably using wrap in the new definitions because the coach knows the desired outcome of the drill and utilizes a quick whistle.

Emergency Action Plans.  Coaches and schools should review and practice your Emergency Action Plans for each sport and venue.  Since there are times that our teams will be spread out, it is very important to practice your Emergency Action Plans.  In addition, it's also a great time to review your plans with your local Emergency Medical System teams in your communities.

Components of an Emergency Plan
1. Emergency Personnel
2. Emergency Communication
3. Emergency Equipment
4. Roles of First Responder
5. Venue Directions with a Map
6. Emergency Action Plan Checklist for Non-Medical Emergencies
Emergency situations may arise at any time during athletic events. Expedient action must be taken in order to provide the best possible care to the sport participant. The development and implementation of an emergency action plan will help ensure that the best care will be provided.

Coaches and Athletes Need to Know:

HAVE A PLAN which TELLS the people WHAT TO DO.  Establish teams:
  • Call 911 Team 
    • Find nearest phone & call 911
    • Meet the Ambulance
    • Call Contacts
  • CPR/AED Team 
    • Start CPR
    • When AED arrives
    • Turn It On and Follow Voice Prompts
  • AED Team
    • Get the AED
    • Get the Athletic Trainer
  • Heat Stroke Team (4 students)
    • Fill tub daily
    • Get water, ice and towels
For each team there are two steps that must be completed:
    • Identify WHAT the TEAM needs to know
    • Identify WHO will be on each TEAM

PRACTICE THE EMERGENCY PLAN - REGULARLY

Please review the regulations that provide for safe & healthful facilities for competitors and spectators as outlined in state statutes 254.11 to 254.178 and be familiar with school emergency evacuation procedures.

Hands Only CPR App:  

Also, important is to have access to an AED.  The first three minutes are most important.  Survival rates decline 7%-10% per minute for every minute that defibrillation is delayed.  When bystander CPR is initiated, survival declines only 3%-4% per minute for every minute that defibrillation is delayed.  Survival rated over 8-% in student-athletes with SCA have been reported if bystander CPR is provided and defibrillation occurs within 3-5 minutes of collapse.  It's also a great time to check the batteries and pads in your AED's.  AED's should be publicly available and never locked in an office or cabinet which could make them inaccessible at the time of need.  Remind staff and coaches of the locations of the AED's.  

Does the program executing the Emergency Action Plan have access to an AED within three minutes of an incident?  Are the AED's charged and ready to go?  Are your Emergency Action Plans provided to your coaches and do they carry them with them at practices and contests?

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes while training or participating in sport competition. Even athletes who appear healthy and have a normal preparticipation screening may have underlying heart abnormalities that can be life threatening. 

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

  • Occurs suddenly and often without warning.
  • An electrical malfunction (short-circuit) causes the bottom chambers of the heart (ventricles) to
  • beat dangerously fast (ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) and disrupts the pumping ability of the heart.
  • The heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and other organs of the body.
  • The person loses consciousness (passes out) and has no pulse.
  • Death occurs within minutes if not treated immediately.
What are the symptoms/warning signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
  • Fainting/blackouts (especially during exercise)
  • Dizziness
  • Unusual fatigue/weakness
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Palpitations (heart is beating unusually fast or skipping beats)
  • Family history of sudden cardiac arrest at age < 50

ANY of these symptoms/warning signs that occur while exercising may necessitate further evaluation from your physician before returning to practice or a game.

There is potential for effective secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death by having automated external defibrillators (AEDs) easily accessible and trained staff available. The presence of trained individuals and access to AEDs at sporting venues provides a potential means of early defibrillation, not only for athletes but also for spectators, coaches, officials, event staff and other attendees in the case of sudden cardiac arrest.

It is advisable to have an Emergency Action Plan in place for all sport practice and competition sites that outlines the plan of action in case of the sudden collapse of an athlete. It is advisable to review and practice the emergency action plan with respective school personnel, coaches, on site medical personnel and local EMS.

Basic actions include: 


1. have a cell phone available at all venues

3. Immediately initiate continuous CPR (push hard, push fast, push often)


Your school¹s medical personnel (team physician, licensed athletic trainer, school nurse) and/or local EMS may wish to assist in the development and implementation, if not already in place, of the emergency preparedness planfor the management of the collapsed athlete. the ³Inter-association task Force recommendations on emergency Preparedness and Management of sudden cardiac arrest in high school and college athletic Programs; a "consensus statement² is one source of guidance as to the development and implementation of an emergency action plan for the management of sudden cardiac arrest in an athlete.

What are ways to screen for Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

  • The American Heart Association recommends a pre-participation history and physical including 12 important cardiac elements.
  • The WIAA Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation ­ Medical History form includes ALL 12 of these important cardiac elements and is mandatory bi-annually.
  • Additional screening using an electrocardiogram and/or an echocardiogram is readily available to all athletes, but is not mandatory.
More information is available on the WIAA web site:
All schools were mailed the "Anyone Can Save a Life" plan information which will be supplied by the NFHS to every member school.
http://www.anyonecansavealife.org/ 
Note:  50% of all Sudden Cardiac Arrest situations, the athlete appears to be experiencing a seizure.   Check for normal breathing and a pulse.  

Don't forget to review the lightning and severe weather plans with your coaches as we get to move outside.  http://www.wiaawi.org/Health/Lightning.aspx  

Proactive Lightning Planning

1. Assign staff to monitor local weather conditions before and during practices and contests. 
2. Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby safe areas. 
3. Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play:

a. When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for thirty minutes and take shelter immediately.

b. Thirty-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.

c. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.

4. Review annually with all administrators, coaches and game personnel. 

5. Inform student-athletes of the lightning policy at start of season.

Have a great fall season and good luck.


Media Contact Todd Clark