“The expectation is to have an athletic season where there are no catastrophic events, but if there is, we need to follow the emergency action plan to the best of our ability,” says Dr. Amber Heath, St. Benedict’s Prep’s Head Certified Athletic Trainer.
Every day that athletes go out to their respective sports is a day they’re putting themselves at risk. Recently, the world went into shock when the superstar athlete Lebron James Jr., or “Bronny,” battled through a cardiac episode. At a school full of student-athletes, there’s always the question of “what if?” in sports. The high intensity of the sports played at Benedict’s carries endless risks. This begs the question, what will the school do if students are placed in a physically damaging situation while on the property?
The Emergency Action Plan is something that every faculty member, staff member and coach knows in the event a medical emergency occurs. The plan provides a guideline for what to do in a medical crisis. The expectation is that no matter what medical emergency occurs, the school wants students to receive proper medical assistance swiftly, quickly and properly.
This said, medical emergencies do not exclusively occur in sporting events. They can happen during the Victory Road Leadership Programs, such as The Water Adversity Challenge and Wilderness Inspired Leadership Development experience or even recreational events such as group games. Students are at a huge risk due the rigorous desire to succeed both mentally and physically at St. Benedict’s, particularly due to the demanding standards which Gray Bees maintain.
According to Dr. Heath, it’s also very important that the community knows what to do in the event of a medical emergency. Dr. Heath will be introducing change that will be coming to the community next year. All coaches and staff will be going through an emergency crisis management simulation. The simulation would show who would have responsibility if Dr. Cassidy, Director of Emergency Management, Ms. Moore, Health Administrator and School Nurse or Dr. Heath are not at the scene of a medical crisis.
Dr. Heath emphasized the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and being certified. Fortunately, St. Benedict’s offers a Emergency Medical Response class taught by Dr. Cassidy. This course allows teens to be better equipped with the tools to respond to an emergency and assist their peers in the event of a medical emergency in various situations – without an advanced educational degree.
“Improper hydration, improper nutrition and insufficient sleep all are concurring problems and are the easiest way athletes get injured. Every athlete on the property should have 1 gallon of water when they come to school. You raise your risk of being injured. All students should take it upon themselves to learn the Emergency Action Plan and teachers should ensure that they know for the safety of the community.”- Amber Heath
