School Football Standby

[Guest guest]

Ok group, I have always been told that the rules of UIL state that an ambulance

must be present at all football games, now I am told this is not offically in

the UIL rule book. Can anyone tell me yes and if so where to find it? Thank you

for all your input.

Eddie

[Guest guest]

i did find this on the UIL website hope it helps

http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/health/emergency_medical.html

Eddie wrote: Ok group, I

have always been told that the rules of UIL state that an ambulance must be

present at all football games, now I am told this is not offically in the UIL

rule book. Can anyone tell me yes and if so where to find it? Thank you for all

your input.

Eddie

[Guest guest]

Eddie, this is straight out of the UIL football manual. It is the policy of most

schools to have an ambulance standing by. The rule implies that an ambulance

should be available.

Emergency Medical Procedures

Schools should have written procedures for medical emergencies at athletic

contests. All schools cannot have physicians present. This makes it mandatory

that emergency procedures be understood by administrators and coaches. Such

procedures include:

1. Immediate, on-the-spot first aid by an adequately trained individual.

2. A telephone or other communication device to contact a doctor, ambulance,

or emergency clinic.

3. A designated emergency vehicle. If an ambulance is not available, another

suitable vehicle should be ready for quick utilization.

4. Notification of parents of injured player.

5. Proper arrangements at hospital or clinic to insure complete care of

injured student.

Any plan of action should be carefully covered in advance with

responsibilities of each party specified. Trainers, coaches, vehicle drivers,

school administrators, and local law officers should function as an informed,

effective team. Communication is the key to an effective athletic emergency care

plan. Everyone - school personnel, medical professionals, transportation staff -

must know exactly what is to be done in an emergency and who is responsible for

each task.

If a definite procedure is adopted and followed, everyone will know that the

health, safety and welfare of participants is a top priority.

Eddie wrote:

Ok group, I have always been told that the rules of UIL state that an

ambulance must be present at all football games, now I am told this is not

offically in the UIL rule book. Can anyone tell me yes and if so where to find

it? Thank you for all your input.

Eddie

[Guest guest]

from the uil website

Health and Safety

Emergency Medical Procedures

Schools

should have written procedures for medical emergencies at athletic

contests. All schools cannot have physicians present. This makes it

mandatory that emergency procedures be understood by administrators and

coaches. Such procedures include: Immediate, on-the-spot first aid by an

adequately trained individual.

A telephone or other communication device to contact a doctor,

ambulance, or emergency clinic.

A

designated emergency vehicle. If an ambulance is not available, another

suitable vehicle should be ready for quick utilization. Notification of parents

of injured player.

Proper arrangements at hospital or clinic to insure complete care

of injured student.

Any

plan of action should be carefully covered in advance with

responsibilities of each party specified. Trainers, coaches, vehicle

drivers, school administrators, and local law officers should function

as an informed, effective team. Communication is the key to an

effective athletic emergency care plan. Everyone - school personnel,

medical professionals, transportation staff - must know exactly what is

to be done in an emergency and who is responsible for each task. If a definite

procedure is adopted and followed,

everyone will know that the health, safety and welfare of participants

is a top priority.

Subject: School Football Standby

To: texasems-l

Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008, 5:42 PM

Ok group, I have always been told that the rules of UIL state that

an ambulance must be present at all football games, now I am told this is not

offically in the UIL rule book. Can anyone tell me yes and if so where to find

it? Thank you for all your input.

Eddie

[Guest guest]

The little 1-A school in the town I live in has a contract with the

local FRO to have at least 2 personnel on scene at all varsity football

games. The FRO has direct radio contact with the county EMS dispatch so

as soon as the FRO members are summoned by either teams trainer for

assistance they request an ambulance. There are 2 ambulances that are

approximately 10-12 minutes away with regular (non-code 3) driving. The

FRO also responds to emergencies from spectators within the stadium but

a majority of the time when the emergency is spectator related someone

that witnessed the event calls 911 and the FRO & ambulance are

dispatched via normal procedures.

There are a few things that help both the FRO and school benefit from

this agreement:

1. The school makes a donation to the FRO for their services. The

amount donated for the entire season to the FRO is almost equal to what

they would pay a private ambulance to do stand-by for ONE game. The

county operated EMS service does not do official stand-bys for high

school football games because the ambulance must be free to respond to

emergencies away from the stadium.

2. There would usually be several FRO memebers at the game as

spectators because thats what you do in a small Texas town during high

school football season. Being there in unifrom with the FRO gives them

public exposure and reminds the public of a helpful service they have

available to them and may possibly generate a few random donations. The

local VFD, which is a completely seperate group, usually mans a truck

at the games for the same reason eventhough they are not being

compensated by the school.

3. It gives the FRO members a chance to converse somewhere other than

over a patient and about something other than a patients vital signs.

This can promote better moral maong the members.

4. The FRO members may have the oppurtunity to practice patient care

for a slightly extended amount of time because they are already on

scene when the ambulance is dispatched and not at the same time. Under

normal circumstances they arrive only a few minutes if that long before

the EMS crew and might only get to do a quick assesment before the

ducrew takes over care of the patient.

There are some negative sides as well but they are relatively minor.

The main one being that the FRO is required by the contract they sign

with the school to have 2 personnel on-scene and committed to the game.

If they are the only 2 responders in town that night and there is an

emergency somewhere else, say a major accident o nthe highway running

through town, they have to stay at the stadium eventhough they may be

desperately needed at the accident.

Overall this is a Win-Win situation for the school and FRO and has

worked well.

Note: I am no longer a part of the FRO that does this.

Chris