Health and Safety
Developing an Emergency Action Plan
Preparation is the key to responding to unexpected emergencies. Every team should have an Emergency Action Plan in writing. Emergencies include injuries, illnesses such as heart attack, seizure, or stroke and natural disasters. An Emergency Action Plan should include all relevant categories and emergencies. This plan should outline the responsibility of everyone that may be involved, and should cover the following areas:
Layout of the facility
Plan where EMS personnel will enter and exit the field. Have a designated place for all keys that open gates or doors to the playing service so that emergency services can come in or players may be evacuated. Decide on the location of rescue and first aid equipment and always have a working phone nearby with emergency telephone numbers posted.
Equipment
Make sure that your first aid kits are fully stocked. Also, make sure to have physical forms and medical release forms for your athletes easily accessible.
Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
An automated external defibrillator is used in cases of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias which lead to cardiac arrest. They are at many fields and schools. Take the time for note their locations.Cell Phone to call (9-1-1)
Support Personnel (within the facility)
Evaluate which support personnel will be with you at the practice or game. This could include coaches, athletic trainers, athletic officials, facility administrators, management personnel, teachers, school nurse/physician, athletic director, clerical personnel and maintenance personnel.
External Support Personnel
Provide posted telephone numbers for EMS personnel, police, fire, hazardous materials (Hazmat) team, Poison Control Center, hospitals, power and gas companies and health department. Staff Responsibilities Assign each staff member a duty. There should be a person(s) to provide care, a person(s) to control bystanders and supervise other athletes, a person(s) to meet EMS personnel, and a person(s) to transport the injured athlete when appropriate.
Communication
Make sure it is clear how and when to call 911 or the local emergency number. Create a chain of command within your facility support personnel. Make sure there is a person to contact the injured student’s family or guardian, and a person to deal with the media.
Follow-up
Decide who will be responsible for completing the appropriate documentation (accident and incident report, etc.) and refilling your first aid kits. Put together a team to evaluate the effectiveness of the Emergency Action Plan and conduct a staff debriefing.It is vital to have strategies and procedures in place prior to a crisis.
By developing an Emergency Action Plan, you will be prepared to handle emergency situations at your practices or games.
Concussion
HB 1824, also called the Lystedt Law, addresses the nature and risks of concussions and head injuries in youth sports, with specific requirements for education and compliance by players, parents, coaches, and youth organizations, such as youth soccer clubs and associations. The bill was voted on by the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously and signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 14, 2009; it went into effect on July 26, 2009.
- Prior to participation, parents and youth athletes must annually sign a concussion and head injury information form acknowledging the nature and risks of concussion and head injuries during participation of any/all Washington Youth Soccer activities.
- All coaches, managers, and any additional personnel involved with the care of players registered with Washington Youth Soccer are required to annually complete a CDC-approved online prevention training and submit the certificate to the club/association.
- A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury will be removed from all forms of play; “when in doubt, sit them out.”
- A youth athlete who has been removed from play must receive written clearance from a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions prior to returning to play.
Washington Youth Soccer has developed guidelines, pertinent information, and documents to inform and educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parent(s)/guardian(s) about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries in compliance with HB 1824 and the WIAA. Each member association and club will work in concert with Washington Youth Soccer to disseminate these materials and ensure compliance with the law and the WIAA.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Washington State Legislature Washington Interscholastic Actives Association
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
SB 5083, also known as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Act (SCA), was voted on by the Washington State House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire on April 17, 2015; it went into effect on July 24, 2015.
The bill outlines the requirements that nonprofit organizations like Washington Youth Soccer and our clubs/associations must comply with prior to using school facilities, with specific educational requirements developed by the WIAA and the University of Washington for players, parents, coaches, and youth sports organizations.
SB 5083 policies regarding Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA):
- Prior to registration with Washington Youth Soccer, parents and youth athletes must annually read the SCA information pamphlet and sign a form acknowledging the nature, risks, symptoms, warning signs, prevention, and treatment of SCA in regards to any/all Washington Youth Soccer activities. Contact your club directly if you have not received the form or otherwise been instructed on how to indicate your acknowledgement.
- Every three years, all coaches, managers, and any additional personnel involved with the care of players registered with Washington Youth Soccer are required to complete the SDA online prevention training and submit the certificate to their club/association.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Washington State Legislature Washington Interscholastic Actives Association
Injury Prevention
We all want to keep our players safe. Use the info below to build a warm up program for your team. Below are links to several programs that you can use.
UW Medicine and Seattle United
Developed by UW Sports Medicine for Seattle United teams. This program is a further developed version of the F-MARC 11+
Warm UP - Injury Prevention Manual
F-MARC 11+ Program
FIFA developed program for injury prevention and warmup. The “FIFA 11+ ” is a complete warm-up program to reduce injuries among male and female football players aged 14 years and older.
The program was developed by an international group of experts, and its effectiveness has been proven in a scientific study. Teams that performed the “FIFA 11+ ” at least twice a week had 30-50% fewer injured players.
IRG Dynamic Movement and Performance Prep
This program is developed by IRG to dynamically stretch the muscles as well as essential body movements