Re-printed with permission from
Markel Insurance Company
www.martialartsinsurance.com
From their "Risk Management
Tips" - December 2009
Does your Martial Arts program have an Emergency Action Plan?
Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) help
speed your response to emergency situations, reduce injury severity,
mitigate damages associated with a catastrophic event, and save lives.
An EAP is not an emergency evacuation plan. For assistance in
developing an emergency evacuation plan, consult your local fire and
police departments for help.
When you create your EAP, assign
specific responsibilities to staff members and cross-train key
personnel. You can use injuries and emergencies experienced in the
martial arts industry to create various scenarios, and practice
responding to them. Make sure staff know where emergency equipment is
located and how to use it. Post emergency contact numbers prominently by
telephones for easy reference.
If a student
receives a blow to the head, for example, it is imperative to assess for
a concussion promptly, and it may be necessary to activate your EAP.
Your plan requires pre- and post-incident guidelines, along with
procedures for third-party intervention. Pre-planning involves gaining
an understanding of concussions, how to evaluate a student's condition,
and any legal requirements for a concussion management program.
Post-incident planning may involve contacting emergency services,
removing a student from practice or competition, and working with a
physician to determine when it is safe for a student to return. Learn
more about concussion management at
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/Coaches_Tool_Kit.htm.
Documentation, such as
an incident report, is instrumental for improving your response. It is
important to maintain thorough records for communicating with emergency
responders, insurance adjusters, and others. Keep your documentation
factual. Don't express your opinion regarding negligence or what you can
do in the future to avoid a similar incident.
Documentation is
critical if you need to communicate to the media. Designate one
spokesperson--typically the owner or facility manager--and train
employees to direct all media inquiries to this contact. Consult your
attorney before releasing any information to the press.
Periodically review
your EAP to help staff gain an understanding of their role and to help
identify areas that need modification. Should an emergency situation
occur, contact your insurance company as soon as is practical.
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