| Every fitness facility should have a well thought | | | | are most likely going to treat the problem on the |
| out and practiced emergency plan in place. | | | | spot to stabilize the patient and then initiate rapid |
| Emergencies happen without warning, no two are | | | | transport to an appropriate medical facility. If the |
| ever alike and waiting until they happen leaves | | | | cause of the problem is less clear we may find a |
| you and your facility open to liability. | | | | quiet corner, if the patient can be moved, and do |
| For the past 5 plus years I have been a | | | | a full work up. This may include a 12 lead |
| Paramedic in a busy urban EMS system. I have | | | | diagnostic ekg, blood sugar, blood pressure etc. |
| responded to calls in numerous fitness facilities | | | | The bottom line is the trainer or manager is never |
| and other public buildings and schools. The general | | | | wrong to access 911. I would much rather show |
| rule of thumb is to first panic, regroup and panic | | | | up and evaluate the patient, and decide that no |
| again. This is where a clear and practiced | | | | further medical intervention is needed than be |
| emergency plan is paramount. | | | | called after it is too late. All facilities should have a |
| The average person that is not aware of how | | | | few employees that are also first aid and or first |
| 911 works actually makes our job much more | | | | responder certified. This will allow that employee |
| confusing. Your plan should include a designated | | | | enough training to help a member or patient who |
| person to make the 911 call. This should be a clear | | | | is suffering from a medical emergency. |
| and early step in the emergency plan. Do not rush | | | | Some of the scariest and most frustrating 911 |
| to give the 911 dispatcher info, they will gather it | | | | calls are where bystanders who thought they |
| from you in an orderly fashion. Please realize that | | | | were helping actually complicated the situation.o |
| as the dispatcher is talking to you another | | | | Seizures: never place anything in the mouth, turn |
| dispatcher is sending an ambulance, this is a well | | | | them onto their side, do not try and hold them |
| coordinated process. Designate a person to meet | | | | down, try only to prevent further injury by |
| and or wave in the ambulance, understand that in | | | | moving objects from around them. At best place |
| most areas first responders will precede the | | | | a towel under the head to protect the head and |
| ambulance, both need to be waved in to the best | | | | neck.o Fainting aka. Near syncope: The causes of |
| location to access the patient. | | | | this can number in the hundreds. Low blood |
| Emergency cards for each member or client in | | | | pressure, blood sugar, over heated, cardiac |
| your facility should be available to give the EMS | | | | abnormalities, asthma, drugs/supplements to |
| crew. If the patient is unconscious or unable to | | | | name a few of the common ones. Place the |
| talk a simple form with name, address, phone | | | | person on their side only if there is no chance of |
| numbers, medical problems, allergies to | | | | spinal injury, if you suspect injury leave them as |
| medications and preferred hospital help expedite | | | | they are. If they are alert (near syncope) and |
| care and transport times. | | | | they did not eat try an energy drink but only if |
| Thankfully almost all Personal fitness certifications | | | | they are alert.o Chest Pain: The causes can be |
| and facilities require CPR certification and most | | | | numerous but a good thing to keep in mind is |
| facilities now have automatic external defibrillators | | | | time is muscle. If the pain is cardiac in origin the |
| (AED), this is excellent but the majority of | | | | longer the patient waits to call 911 the more heart |
| emergencies do not require CPR. Hypoglycemia, | | | | muscle that dies.o Stroke: Same as chest pain, |
| seizures, dehydration, medication and | | | | time is brain tissue.o Trauma: This encompasses |
| supplementation errors, minor traumas, and | | | | minor sprains and strains up to falls and fractures. |
| respiratory issues are more common and often | | | | No need to run and call 911 for a sprained ankle, |
| more difficult to deal with. | | | | use your judgment for when it is necessary to |
| When the EMT's arrive we only need a few | | | | call 911. One thing to keep in mind, many people |
| pieces of vital information. What happened, how | | | | have a medical event, fall and now they have a |
| did it happen, did they loose consciousness, did | | | | trauma, always be suspicious.o Chemical Exposure: |
| they fall and or hit their head. Has this ever | | | | Does your club have a pool, where are the |
| happened before, any past medical history (this | | | | chemicals, how do treat an exposure, can you set |
| should be on the emergency card). A big question | | | | in motion an evacuation plan. |
| I often get is what are the Paramedics going to | | | | Plan ahead, have the right people in place, practice |
| do?. If it is a true emergency, and by this I mean | | | | your plan and never panic. |
| cardiac / respitory arrest or unconsciousness, we | | | | |