Skip To Main Content

Barry University Athletics

scoreboard

university logo

Athletic Training Emergency Action Plan

A SERIOUS INJURY IS ANY CONDITION WHEREBY THE ATHLETE'S LIFE MAY BE IN DANGER OR RISKS PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT. THESE INJURIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: CERVICAL SPINE INJURIES, HEAD INJURIES, LOSS OF LIMB, SERIOUS BLEEDING, SHOCK, SERIOUS FRACTURES, HEAT STRESS AND CARDIOVASCULAR ARREST.

These emergency procedures are applicable at the following locations at Barry University : Feinbloom Baseball Field, Buccaneer Softball Field, Buccaneer Soccer Fields, Tennis Courts, and Health & Sports Center.

Cross Country, Golf, Rowing and Swimming have venue specific instructions.

Emergency Personnel : NATA Certified and Florida Licensed Athletic Trainer(s) and Athletic Training Student(s) are on site for practice and competition; additional athletic training staff are accessible from the athletic training room (located in the Health and Sports Center). Team Physicians are on site or on call. EMS available by calling 911. The athletic training staff is certified by either the American Red Cross or National Safety Council in Emergency Response.

Barry University Athletic Training Staff: must be aware of any emergency that has occurred within the athletic department and its members.

  • Head Athletic Trainer..............Matthew Santos-Vitorino [office] 305-899-3572 [cell] 413-221-0642

Emergency Communication : Via 2-way radio (radio frequency is set on channel 12) and cellular phone(s). Athletic Training Room Number: 305-899-3555. Phones and radios will be on site with certified athletic trainer during practices and events. The main athletic training room phone is located on the side west wall (305-899-3555). When using campus phones you must dial 9 to get an outside line, then number. Local EMS is 911. Dial x3333 for security using a campus phone. (To dial Security from pay phone, dial *3). If using a 2-way radio, security is on channel 1. Campus security has direct dispatcher with local EMS.

Emergency Equipment: Supplies (AED, Oxygen, Spine Board, Cervical Collar, Crutches, Splint Bag, Kits, Sports Chair, and OSHA Materials) located on field and gymnasium with the home team and certified athletic trainer. Additional emergency equipment is accessible from the athletic training facility in the Health and Sports Center.

Back to Top

AFTER HOURS

In the event of an emergency after office hours, the following plan should be initiated:

  • Call 911 and go to the nearest hospital:

NorthShore Hospital (nearest to Barry) 1100 NW 95th St, Miami 305-835-6191.

  • If you live on campus, contact your dorm's RA and security 305-899-3333 or dial *3 if using a campus payphone. Must Notify Student Health Services.
  • Notify athletic training staff of Emergency:

Head Athletic Trainer: Matt Santos-Vitorino, M.S., ATC/LAT : 305-8993572

Contact your head coach/staff and a family member (if necessary).

Back to Top

VENUE DIRECTIONS (see map)

  1. Soccer, Baseball and Softball fields.Enter through the access road located on 115 th St .by the rear parking lot. Proceed south west on access road to fields. Personnel (Certified Athletic Trainers, Athletic Training Students, Coaches, Security, and/ AD) will be situated at various locations for directing EMS to scene.

    IN CASE OF LOCKED GATES TO SOCCER, BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL FIELD: CONTACT NEAREST SECURITY GUARD. IF GUARD IS NOT IN VICINITY, CALL Security 305-899-3333 from campus phone or *3 from pay phone or channel 1 using 2-way radio.

  2. HSC Gymnasium (volleyball, basketball), Tennis Courts & Athletic Training Room. Enter through the access road located on 115 th St. by the rear parking lot. Proceed into the HSC building from rear access door. Personnel (Certified Athletic Trainers, Athletic Training Students, Coaches, Security, and/ AD) will be situated at various locations for directing EMS to scene.
  3. Boathouse (Shane Water Sports Center, 6500 Indian Creek Drive , Miami Beach ). From I -95, take the I-195 east exit to Miami Beach. Follow signs for Alton Road north . Take Alton Road approximately 1 mile to the 63rd street bridge overpass (left lane). This will put you on Indian Creek heading north. The first light is 65th street with the boathouse on your left side. At the boathouse there should be a first aid kit, along with the EAP and athlete insurance and contact information. Coach(s) should have access to a cell phone and follow the EAP directions and apply them to the boathouse in case of an emergency. It is the coaching staff's responsibility to establish & maintain access with Marine Patrol. Any Emergencies at this venue should be directed to Mercy Hospital 3663 South Miami Avenue, main line 305-854-4400 emergency services 305-285-2171
  4. Golf Due to the varying number of golf courses that the men and women play at, coach will notify EMS , Clubhouse, and Barry University Athletic Training Room of situation that has arisen. They will follow the EAP for the course they are at. The coach should have at all times the Barry University Athletics EAP with important phone numbers. And also carry all athletes' emergency numbers and insurance information. In the event of an emergency with a coach or athlete, the athletic training room staff needs to be notified.

Back to Top

RELATED EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Fire

In case of fire, follow these instructions:

  1. Evacuate building immediately by following nearest exit sign.
  2. Exit in a calm and orderly fashion through nearest fire exit.
  3. Call 911
  4. If smoke is present, crawl low to escape.
  5. If you cannot escape, stay in room, stuff door cracks and vents with wet towels or clothes.
  6. Call 911 and let dispatcher know your location

Poisoning

  1. Check scene to make sure it is safe
  2. Remove victim from source of Poison
  3. Check for life threatening situation
  4. If victim is conscious, ask questions to get more information.
  5. Look for poison container and take it with you to telephone
  6. Call Poison Control Center or 911
  7. Give care according to directions of PCC or 911.
  8. Find out what type of poison did the victim ingest
  9. How much poison did victim ingest?
  10. When did the poisoning take place?

Back to Top

CATASTROPHIC INJURY - CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN

  • Contact Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Personnel:
    • Head Athletic Trainer: Matt Santos-Vitorino, M.S., ATC/LAT 305-899-3572
  • Contact Barry University ICA Administration
    • Dr. Scott Smith, Athletic Director 305-899-3085
  • Designate athletic administrator point person
    • Dr. Scott Smith, Athletic Director 305-899-3085
    • Jamie Carrig Senior Associate AD office: 305-899-4823
    • Janelle Iaquinto, Assistant AD/SWA office: 305-899-4084
  • Contact/update sport staff if not yet familiar with situation
  • Contact family by appropriate individual (use assistance as needed):
  • Coordinated media plan
    • NO CONTACT WITH MEDIA from the Athletic Training Staff, Hospital Staff or Medical Personnel or Coaching Staff except through Athletic Communications
    • Establish hospital contact person
  • Meeting with athletes to discuss situation
    • NO OUTSIDE DISCUSSION OF MEETING WITH MEDIA
  • Complete documentation of events include everyone involved with signatures
  • Collect and secure all equipment and materials involved
  • Construct a detailed time line of events related to the incident
  • Involve appropriate counseling and ministerial personnel
  • Assign athletic staff member to be with family at all times upon arrival; assist family as needed; protect from outside persons
  • Critical incident stress debriefing/ counseling as necessary for individuals involved in incident

Back to Top

INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

GENERAL POLICY

In the case of inclement weather (i.e.Thunderstorms/Lightning, Hail, Hurricane, Tornado), it will be under the direct discretion of the on-site Certified Athletic Trainer in consultation with the Administrator on site to determine if the practice/game fields should be evacuated. Exceptions will be made for golf and rowing, whereby the head coach will have to suspend activity in the absence of an Athletic Training staff member.

LIGHTNING

Lightning is a dangerous phenomenon. The athletic training staff has developed a lightning policy to minimize the risk of injury from lightning strike to Barry University student-athletes, coaches, support staff and fans. To monitor lightning, BarryU and the Athletic Training Staff will utilize Thor Guard lightning prediction and warning system.

If the threat of lightning is detected [exceeding a predetermined threshold], Thorguard will provide an audible horn blast for 15 seconds. At the same time, a yellow strobe light will begin to flash. At this time all student-athletes, spectators and personnel must evacuate the fields and/ tennis courts and seek shelter. The nearest safe shelter is the HSC lobby/Gymnasium . (applies to soccer(s), tennis(s), baseball, softball). Once Thorguard determines the threat of lightning has left the area; the Thorguard will give three quick horn blasts signaling it is safe to return. At this time, the flashing strobe will cease.
Athletic teams that practice and compete outdoors are at risk when the weather is inclement. Florida is one of the worse states for lightning deaths. For this reason the following guidelines, adopted from the NCAA and NATA, must be observed if it appears that lightning is possible for the area:

  1. Thorguard, a lightning prediction and warning system will be the primary system. A sensor, located near the baseball field, will constantly monitor the local environment and focus on predicting whether there is enough energy change to create a lightning strike at BarryU. If the threat of lightning is detected [exceeding a predetermined threshold], Thorguard will provide an audible horn blast for 15 seconds. At the same time, a yellow strobe light will begin to flash. At this time all student-athletes, spectators and personnel must evacuate the fields and/ tennis courts and seek shelter.
  2. If Thor Guard® is not present, the countdown or "Flash-to-Bang" method will be used. To use the Flash to Bang method, count the seconds from the time lightning/flash is sighted to when the clap/bang of thunder is heard. Divide this number by 5 and that equals how far away (in miles) the lightning is occurring. For example, 20 second count = 4 miles. As a minimum, the NCAA and the National Severe Storms laboratory (NSSL) strongly recommend that all individuals leave the athletic sites and reach a safe location by the flash-to-bang count of 30 seconds (6 miles).
If lighting is detected and the severe weather text/email is received, with reading at 8 miles or less range regardless of the presence of visible lightning, all athletes and personnel must evacuate the fields and/ tennis courts and seek shelter. The best nearest safe shelter is the HSC lobby/Gymnasium (applies to soccer(s), tennis(s), baseball, softball). DUGOUTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE. However, lightning can strike as far as 10 miles and it does not have to rain for lightning to strike. Activities will be terminated at 40 seconds or 8 miles.
  1. If lightning is predicted or in the immediate area, the certified athletic trainer [ATC] will notify the on-site administrator and/or head coach as to the status of the inclement weather and of need to take shelter. Teams may return to the field once Thor Guard® has detected no threat of lightning in the area; Thor Guard® will give three 5-second horn blasts signaling it is safe to return and the flashing strobe will cease.
  2. If no safe structure is within a reasonable distance, then other ideas for shelter include: Safe Shelter areas: enclosed buildings, fully enclosed metal vehicles with windows up (no convertibles or golf carts) DO NOT TOUCH THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE!, low ground areas or dry ditch (as a last resort).
Unsafe shelter areas: water, open fields, dugouts, golf carts, metal objects (bleachers, fences, etc.), individual tall trees, light poles. AVOID BEING THE HIGHEST OBJECT IN AN OPEN FIELD. ***Athletes/coaches etc. should not stand in groups or near a single tree. There should be 15 ft between athletes (NLSI, 2000).

Note: sports with metal equipment. Golfers drop your clubs and remove shoes, baseball/softball drop bats and remove shoes, tennis drop rackets.
If unable to reach safe shelter, assume a crouched position on the ground with only the balls of the feet touching the ground, wrap your arms around your knees and lower your head. Minimize contact with the ground, because lightning current often enters the victim through the ground rather than by a direct overhead strike. Do not lie flat! If safe shelter is only a short distance away, its been suggested to run for shelter, rather than stay in middle of field.
  1. If a person feels that his/her hair standing on end, they should immediately crouch as described in item # 5. If someone is struck by lightning, activate the Emergency Action Plan. A person struck by lightning does not carry an electrical charge; immediately initiate the EAP and begin the primary survey. If possible move victim to a safe location.
  2. Avoid using the telephone except in emergency situations. People have been struck by lightning while using a land-line phone. A cellular phone or a portable phone is a safe alternative to land-line phones, if the person and the antenna are located within a safe structure, and if all other precautions are followed.

Event Procedures

Prior to Competition: A member of the Athletic Training staff will greet the officials, explain that we have means to monitor lightning, and offer to notify the officials during the game if there is imminent danger from the lightning.

Announcement of Suspension of Activity: Once it is determined that there is danger of a lightning strike, the Athletic Training staff member will notify the head coach and official and subsequently summon athletes (via horn or whistle) from the playing field or court.

Evacuation of the playing field: Immediately following the announcement of suspension of activity all athletes, coaches, officials and support personnel are to evacuate to an enclosed grounded structure (HSC/Gymnasium/Locker rooms).

Evacuation of the stands: During competition once the official signals to suspend activity, a member of the Sports Information staff will announce via the PA system something like: "May I have your attention. We have been notified of approaching inclement weather. Activity will cease until we have determined it is safe and the risk of lightning is diminished. We advise you to seek appropriate shelter at the following areas: HSC Lobby/Gymnasium. Though protection from lightning is not guaranteed, you may seek shelter in an automobile. Thank you for your cooperation."

Resumption of Activity: Activity may resume once a member of the Athletic Training staff gives permission.

Away events: apply the home/facility EAP or modify the BU guidelines that apply accordingly.

Lightning Detection Procedures for Non-Supervised Activities:

Ex. Athletes using facilities in the off season or outside of regular practice hours.

Thorguard® will constantly monitor the local environment and focus on predicting whether there is enough energy change to create a lightning strike at BarryU. If there is a threat of a lightning strike, an audible 15-second horn as well as a visible light will begin to flash. This alert will signal the possibility of a lightning strike, to evacuate all athletic field, and to seek shelter immediately. No method of lightning detection can detect every strike nor is prevention from lighting a guarantee. However, we encourage you to follow the Flash-Bang-Method to monitor the approximation of lightning.

Thorguard
954.835.0900

Hurricane/ Tornados

Follow University Plan

Back to Top

HEAT ILLNESS/ WET BULB GLOBE TEMPERATURE

During summer, early fall, and late spring, high temperatures and high humidity are present. It is important that we make ourselves aware of the dangers of this situation to prevent heat exhaustion and/or illness. (See description below). Daily measurements via a thermometer/sling psychrometer are taken before each practice during periods of extreme heat and humidity.
 
 Wet Bulb Region 3 Chart
 
 Wet Bulb Globe Temperature monitoring. Region 3 standards

  1.  82.2-87.0 WBGT: at least 3 separate 4-minute breaks for every hour
  2. 87.1-90.0 WBGT: 4 separate breaks every hour, max 2 hours
  3. 90.1-91.9 WBGT: 4 x 4-minute breaks, max 1 hour ( no conditioning)
  4. 92+ WBGT: no training (move to cooler time of day)

ATR MAP
ATR EAP Map

Back to Top