Re-Engineering EAPs

Emergency Action Plans at Butler Athletics and a transformation pivot! That is a significant mouthful and more of a mind twister which began with a brain-storming session among our athletic training staff. We examined our protocols, our stakeholders, our pace of review and felt a transformation was in order.

We developed a Strategy which is our cornerstone to all actions around emergent learning, equipment, discussions, education and accountability.

Step one (1) was to send our Team Physician and two athletic trainers for an immersion weekend of education.

Step two (2) involved scrubbing all current EAPs and re-writing the content to be consistent with the new learnings. Included in the new protocols are more details of action, equipment and timelines of accountability.

Step three (3) was an assembly of our eleven (11) athletic trainers and our Team Physician for a walk of each athletic venue. This walk included evaluation of vehicle access, confirming addresses, AED access, water sources, severe weather sheltering, cell phone strength, and current public signage.

Step four (4) involved ‘table top’ exercises of specific emergent situations such as Sickle Cell Trait and high volume oxygen, Heat Illness and rectal temperature practice, and spine boarding.

Step five (5) was a half day of detailed discussions with our Indianapolis EMS leadership. We evaluated IEMS protocols and Butler protocols for for seamless management. Items such as cold water immersion before transport, agreed upon core temp. for transport, and pre-hospital care of the overdosed or unstable spine.

Step six (6) is the fluid and consistent accountabilities for equipment care, AED battery and pad checks, cooperation with university Operations staff and a commitment to ‘table top’ discussions and practice.