The Importance of Emergency Action Plans

The scene could play out in any wrestling room across America. Two wrestlers drilling, one gets thrown, lands hard on his partner, losing his breath in the process. The wrestler stands up and tells the coach, “I just got the wind knocked out of me. No big deal.”

So that wrestler goes back in and keeps wrestling.

But a few minutes later, that wrestler is on the bench on the side of the wrestling room, pale, and white as a ghost. The coach tells the wrestler to go see the trainer knowing if it's just the wind knocked out of him, he will be fine. If it's something more, the trainer can assess.

In this case, it was something more.

After initial assessment the trainer told the coach: “I called 911, they are bringing a Life Flight (emergency helicopter) for this wrestler—he lacerated his spleen.”

Taking Action 

If the coach didn't send the wrestler to the trainer or take action, and let that wrestler go home, he could have bled out and died. But because the coach had an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place and prepared in advance for an emergency situation, both the coach and trainer knew exactly what to do, ultimately saving that wrestler's life.

The coach in this scenario was Kyle Martin, a Pennsylvania USA Wrestling Gold Certified Coach, Pennsylvania USAW National Team coach and PAUSAW Cadet Director. This happened to one his wrestlers during a basic freestyle practice.

“It isn’t a matter of if an emergency is going to take place, it is a matter of when,” Martin says. “So, the No. 1 thing I would recommend is to be calm and think. To make that easier, have a plan in place that you practiced and are comfortable with. If you have this mentality and plan accordingly, when an emergency takes place you will be ready to provide the most effective care to those involved in an emergency. Hopefully, you over plan and never have an emergency. I never planned that I would be dealt with an emergency, but again, it is a matter of when.”

USA Wrestling's Bronze level coach’s education course highlights Emergency Action Planning (EAP), which was developed in cooperation with the Korey Stringer Institute. In August 2001, Korey Stringer, a Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman, passed away from exertional heat stroke. The mission of the Korey Stringer Institute is to provide research, education, advocacy, and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter, and laborer.

Martin encourages every wrestling coach to invest in the courses available through the USA Wrestling National Coached Education Program.

“It directly made me a better coach that was prepared and equipped to handle emergencies better than any time before in my life,” Martin says.

EAP Implementation 

Being prepared for emergencies is another responsibility of being a coach, says Martin, who also teaches courses through the National Coaches Education Program NCEP. In a recent Bronze certification course, Martin focused on developing, implementing, and practicing an EAP. This was two weeks after he put the EAP he developed into place in his own wrestling room. In that training Martin emphasized these points:

• Know your role and first response. What do coaches do? What do athletes do? What role does the trainer play?
• Who is calling 911 if needed, who is responsible for contacting the athletic trainer, who is responsible for getting the important stuff?
• Know where to find the important tools to succeed: Nearest AED machine, phone, where to find the trainer, and parent contact information.
• Know the basics of immediate care: What are the basic first steps for possible situations from bleeding and cuts to unconsciousness to breaks/dislocation to choking, heart stoppage, and more.
• Practice. Learn. Repeat: Never stop learning how to be prepared for emergencies. Learn how to better react to all situations.

EAP training is essential because we always fall back on our training, says Mike Clayton, Manager, NCEP for USA Wrestling.

“In situations where seconds could mean life or death, we must know that our training is ready to set us moving in the right direction at a moment’s notice,” Clayton says. “Emergency Action Plans allow us to understand the processes we might need to take in the event of an emergency.”

In March, Brayden Weber of Becker High School collapsed after his 220-pound semifinal match at the Minnesota state high school wrestling tournament. His heart stopped, but quick action by first responders, who performed CPR, saved his life.

Dr. B.J. Anderson, a medical advisor for Minnesota USA Wrestling and tournament physician for the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, was working an NCAA Division III regional tournament the day Weber collapsed. He commended the doctors and athletic trainers on the scene at the Minnesota state high school tournament for their quick and decisive actions. Those professionals had an EAP in place, practiced, and perfected the plan.

“I would suggest all coaches and parents be aware of simple CPR and usage of an AED (automated external defibrillator),” Anderson says. “Also all clubs and training facilities must have an AED immediately available or on the premises. Taking a Basic Life Support (BLS) class through your local hospital or school should be done every two years and will instruct on CPR and AED usage. Also make sure any tournament you have your child participate in has certified athletic trainers that are working the tournament. They are all well aware of AED usage and making sure it will be available at the tournament.”

If you are not trained in emergency preparedness and come across an emergency situation, call out immediately for help says Anderson. At a wrestling event for example, there is a good chance someone nearby knows CPR or who can at least assist.

Next, know exactly who is calling for help. That person must stay on the phone with emergency personnel to help direct them to the scene.

“For many of us, that will be the wrestling room or the gym,” says Clayton. “We need to have the address info, location, special directions—like turn left at the football stadium—and we need to ensure we have an AED ready to apply within three minutes or less.”

“In extreme emergencies many may rush to help,” Martin says. “But no one calls for help.”

Include all Stakeholders

Martin's EAP includes action steps for every situation and scenario—practice, dual meets, tournaments—and includes anyone who could be involved, from athletes to family members to coaches. He recommends letting everyone contribute, then practicing the plan monthly with all stakeholders.

“As a coach there will be instances when you aren’t in the wrestling room,” Martin says. “If an emergency takes place in those instances, the more athletes know the EAP, the better they will react to emergencies. For extreme emergencies, seconds matter, so having a solid, clean, and understandable plan in place could be the difference between life and death. Just like you practice single leg offense to perfect it, you can practice what to do in an emergency so no time is wasted in implementing the EAP.”

Clayton has one more piece of advice: Any athlete suffering an injury during a practice, even if it seems minor, should be required to speak with a medical professional before they are released from a practice. Teammates should look out for each other and encourage their peers to take injuries seriously. Being tough doesn't save lives.

“Always err on the side of caution,” Martin says. “It is better to do too much than to do too little in terms of caring for someone in an emergency. Remember, wrestlers are tough, sometimes we have to be a little more cautious because of that toughness to ensure their safety.”

Wrestlers spend countless hours preparing to succeed on the mat. It’s as important for coaches, parents, and wrestlers to be prepared for emergency situations. Because it isn't a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

“While investing time into an EAP now may seem less than important, work now saves lives in the future,” Clayton says.

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USA Wrestling Coaches' Educational Resources

Kyle Martin: Why Would I Take a Bronze Certification Course with USA Wrestling?