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Medical Emergency Awareness Are coaches and chaperones aware of athletes' pre-existing medical problems, such as diabetes, epilepsy or allergic reaction to a bee sting? Do coaches and chaperones have ready access to the Athlete/Parent Release Forms which give permission for medical treatment in case of emergency? Do coaches and chaperones have these waivers available at each of the training sessions and competitions? Is a well-stocked first-aid kit also available at the training sessions and competitions? Have coaches been instructed how to use the materials in the first-aid kit? If a medical emergency occurs at a training site, do coaches know the location of the nearest telephone to call the appropriate emergency number? If that phone is a locked room, do they have a key? Is a custodian on duty and easily found? If the phone is out of order, do they know the location of the next available phone? It is a switchboard phone; do they know how to get an outside line? If a medical emergency occurs at an event or training site, are there adequate assistant coaches or volunteers available to stay with other team members while medical emergency procedures are taken? If a medical emergency occurs at a competition of event, does each coach and volunteer know the emergency plan: who to contact, location of contact, method of communication and follow-up procedures? Has an emergency plan been developed, and has it been included in the pre-event training of each volunteer? If paramedics have to be called, will they find locked gates blocking access to the injured athlete? If so, do coaches or volunteers have a key for those gates or a way to get one quickly? Do coaches or chaperones have a list of the names and phone numbers of the parents or group home providers to call in the event of a serous injury? Where is the nearest hospital to the training or competition site? Is that where an ambulance will take the injured athlete? If the answer to any of these questions is "no," coaches or volunteers are not prepared to deal with a medical emergency at an event or training site. If the answer to any of these questions is no, coaches or volunteers are not prepared to deal with a medical emergency at an event or training site.   Recommended Emergency Medical Procedures Do not move an athlete who you believe may be seriously injured, especially in the case of a head, neck or back injury. A responsible person must stay with the injured athlete at all times and have the athlete's Medical Release Form available. For a medical emergency in the United States, a responsible person should call 911 for the paramedics as quickly as possible, and go to meet them at the site entrance. Contact the parent or care provider as soon as possible.   Information to give the emergency operator: Caller's name Name of site and location of its intersecting streets Injured athlete's location at the site Type of injury

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