University of Virginia’s Students Help Community Plan For A Bad Day In The Park
Softball, soccer and hiking can make for great day of recreation, but injuries and emergencies are no walk in the park.
That’s why faculty and students from the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development and the Claudius Crozet Park board of directors designed an emergency action plan for when great days turn sour.
The partnership’s goal was to create and test a plan that could reduce the amount of time from the collapse of an athlete or park patron to the response from the emergency management system.
“Unfortunately, each year in the United States lives are lost in sport due to emergent situations such as cardiac arrest, heat stroke or head injuries,” said Jake Resch, associate professor of kinesiology and the primary facilitator of the partnership. “A well-designed and, more importantly, practiced emergency action plan may prevent deaths associated with sport.”
On a sunny Sunday last month, UVA students tested the plan by joining forces with the park board, the Crozet Fire Department and the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad. UVA Health’s Pegasus program, the air and ground critical care transport service, also joined in.
The simulation aimed to ensure the safety of those using Crozet Park for activities like baseball and soccer, as well as the pool and other community functions.
“Our hope is that the emergency action plans, upon implementation, will facilitate enhanced communication between emergency medical services and coaches, athletes and bystanders who identify someone in need,” Resch said. “In the event of an emergency, every minute counts.”
For Erin Moore, assistant professor and coordinator of clinical education for the Master of Science in Athletic Training students, the opportunity offered UVA students a chance to create and implement their own emergency action plans, increasing their knowledge and proficiency in a life-saving athletic training skill.
Under Moore’s direction, athletic training students visited multiple locations in Crozet where sporting events are held. There, the students met with a local site manager and ultimately created an emergency action plan for five separate sites, one of which was Claudius Crozet Park.
On April 23, the graduate students, seven park board members and 50 community members gathered to hear an overview of the importance of an emergency action plan and discuss the implementation of the life-saving plan at Claudius Crozet Park.
The plan was then tested with a simulated emergency that engaged the Crozet Fire Department, the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad and the Pegasus program. The scenario: a 10-year-old athlete experienced commotio cordis, a sudden cardiac arrhythmic injury caused by an impact to the chest that can be a fatal condition if not treated promptly. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who collapsed during an NFL game last season, said he suffered just such an injury.
Within 30 seconds of the simulation patient falling to the ground, an AED was used to restart the heart and emergency medical responders were called. The Western Albemarle Rescue Squad and the Crozet Fire Department arrived, and the patient was prepared for transport and delivered to UVA Pegasus.
“Seeing this as a student, at the start of their career, is an incredible opportunity and model for their future,” Moore said.
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Moore also highlighted the value of students connecting with the local community and working with other health care providers within the community.
“As athletic trainers, we care for all ages,” Moore said. “I was thrilled to have our students provide a high standard of evidence-based care to assist with the safety of athletes in Crozet.”
The project also provided students a chance to interact with emergency services including fire, rescue and Pegasus.
“To achieve this success in patient care and collaboration, creating these strong relationships with emergency services is essential,” Moore said.
Kim Guenther, president of the Claudius Crozet Park’s board of directors, said planning and practicing for emergencies at the park helps keep community members safe.
“On any given day, community-owned and -operated Crozet Park hosts youth soccer, softball and baseball, runners and walkers on the perimeter trail, neighbors with their dogs in the dog park, and athletes on the grounds, in the pavilions and in the fitness center and pool,” Guenther said. “Initiating an end-to-end simulation would not have been possible without our partnership with UVA graduate athletic training students, their professors and first responders.”
“The event was extremely successful,” Resch said. “Our goal is that the new emergency action plans will be able to be activated by anyone, regardless of their age or profession, to facilitate timely care.”