Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) During Monday Night Football: 7 Implications for the High School Setting

Course Description: In January 2023, Damar Hamlin, a player for the NFL Buffalo Bills, experienced a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during Monday Night Football which was witnessed by millions of viewers, athletes, coaches, and spectators. The incident highlighted the effectiveness of a well-executed emergency action plan (EAP), which is essential for all sports activities, including high schools and colleges. While high schools typically have limited resources, athletic trainers serve as the first line of defense for injuries if present and if not fall on coaches. Therefore, it is crucial to have an interdisciplinary and comprehensive emergency action plan (EAP) that address all types of catastrophic injuries, including those caused by natural and man-made events using an “all-hazards approach". This session will utilize a comparative analysis approach between NFL and high schools in outlining the 7 key components essential to all athletic EAPs. BOC Domains of Athletic Training: Domain I - Risk Reduction, Wellness, and Health Literacy Domain Ill - Critical Incident Management Domain V - Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility Practice Gap: Despite the potential life-saving benefits of a well-executed emergency action plan (EAP) in response to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and other catastrophic injuries during sports activities, many high schools with limited resources may not have an interdisciplinary and comprehensive EAP in place that addresses all types of injuries using an "all-hazards approach." As a result, athletic trainers, who serve as the first line of defense for injuries, may lack the necessary training and resources to effectively respond to such emergencies, leaving athletes at risk for serious harm. Therefore, there is a need for standardized guidelines and training for developing and implementing EAPs in high schools, particularly those that may have limited resources, to ensure that all athletes have access to appropriate emergency care. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify and analyze contemporary components of emergency action plans utilized in developing and implementing comprehensive policies and procedures. Analyze and implement continuous quality improvement processes to address stakeholder educational and practice gaps that may occur in the delivery of prehospital emergency care. Evaluate current accepted prehospital emergency standards of care with existing organizational procedures and protocols to modify and implement to ensure efficient interdisciplinary healthcare delivery. Clinical Bottom Line: Athletic trainers are often the first responders to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and other catastrophic injuries during sports activities, but many high schools with limited resources may not have a well-executed emergency action plan (EAP) in place that addresses all types of injuries. This may leave athletes at risk for serious harm, highlighting the need for standardized guidelines and training for developing and implementing EAPs in high schools. An interdisciplinary and comprehensive EAP that uses an "all-hazards approach" can ensure that all athletes have access to appropriate emergency care, potentially reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with sports-related injuries. Summary Conclusions: The recent incident involving an NFL player's sudden cardiac arrest highlights the importance of a well-executed emergency action plan (EAP) for all sports activities, including high schools and colleges. Many high schools may lack the necessary resources to effectively respond to emergencies, leaving athletes at risk for serious harm. Therefore, there is a need for standardized guidelines and training for developing and implementing EAPs in high schools. Athletic trainers serve as the first line of defense for injuries during sports activities, and an interdisciplinary and comprehensive EAP that uses an "all-hazards approach" can ensure that all athletes have access to appropriate emergency care. The 7 key components essential to all athletic EAPs should be analyzed and implemented to ensure efficient interdisciplinary healthcare delivery and continuous quality improvement processes to address stakeholder educational and practice gaps. Developing and implementing comprehensive policies and procedures for emergency action plans can potentially reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with sports-related injuries. Standardized guidelines and training can ensure that all athletes have access to appropriate emergency care, regardless of the resources available at their school.

Ray Castle, PhD, LAT, ATC, NREMT BIOGRAPHY A native of St. Joseph, LA and a 1990 graduate of LSU, Castle has an extensive background in education, clinical practice, and professional service spanning over 32 years. Dr. Castle's clinical practice background has included experiences at the high school, college, and international (1996 Atlanta Olympic Games; USOC Sports Medicine Staff for 2003 Pan American Games; and 2004 US Women's Bobsled) levels, large-scale medical coverage and coordination, as well as extensive experience in emergency medicine. He received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University, where he began as an athletic training student.  Ray received his Master of Science and his Doctor of Philosophy in Human Performance and Recreation from The University of Southern Mississippi. Additionally, Ray is a nationally registered emergency medical technician (NREMT) as well as an EMS Instructor through the Louisiana State Bureau of EMS. Castle is nationally known and recognized for his skills and contributions to advancing the athletic training profession and advocacy for sports health and safety through 200+ presentations, research projects, and publications.  He has served in various leadership roles in state, regional, and national organizations, including a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Education Council (2004-2008), Board Commissioner on the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) from 2011-2017, and Vice-President of the Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association (2013-2016). Ray is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including National Athletic Trainers' Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (MDAT) in 2017, induction into the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2014, and Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2019. After a 20-year stay at LSU where he was Professor and Athletic Training Program Director, Castle transitioned in August 2022 to devote his energy and passion to Action Medicine Consultants, LLC, as Owner and Chief Medical Officer since 2012. His company provides sports medicine event coordination; emergency medicine and response training; EAP development and audits for organizations; and continuing education courses. One of his most recent activities was serving as a consultant for the Louisiana High School Athletics Association in the development and implementation of its Pre-Game Administrative Conference (PAC), or “medical time-out” program. He currently serves as medical coordinator for over 20 large-scale events in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Ray is married to the former Katherine Vanduzee of Baton Rouge, LA. Katherine is an administrative assistant who attended LSU.

Action Medicine Consultants, LLC (BOC AP#: P12095) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of 1.0 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program. GENERAL DISCLAIMER: It is the responsibility of the participant, relying on the independent expertise and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best treatment and method of application for the patient. Participants must use discretion when using the information contained within this presentation.  The presenter has provided the following regarding disclaimers: The information and content provided in this course are for informational purposes only. The presenter nor Action Medicine Consultants, LLC bears no liability for your use of this information and content. The views expressed in this course are those of the presenter(s). CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use.  This presentation does not involve the unlabeled use of a product or product under investigational use.  During the presentation, the presenter provides disclosure of any relevant financial relationships or other associations.  Refund Policy:  Live (virtual or in-person) Courses - Full refunds (Minus 10% for handling fees) are given after completion of the course if cancellation request is received 14 days prior to the course date. No refunds will be given after this deadline, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course. This also applies to virtual courses if a technical issue occurred on the presenter side that prevented a full presentation from being performed. On-Demand Courses - No refunds will be given, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course if there is a technical issue in Action Medicine Consultant's delivery of the course and in which no certificate of completion was issued.