The person activating EMS responsibilities

1. Call 911 immediately.

2. Be prepared to give as much information as possible including:

   • Your name, address/location, telephone number 

   • Why you are calling

   • Condition of individual

   • Any treatment initiated by the first responder

   • Location of individual

   • Directions if needed

   • Other information requested by the dispatcher

3. After ending the call, report back to the First Responder that EMS has been called and is on the way

The person retrieving first aid supplies or emergency equipment

1. Retrieve all equipment and return to the scene. 

2. Notify the First Responder and provide items as needed

The person directing EMS to the scene

1. If more than one person is needed, request additional help.

2. Go to the entrance of the school or a highly visible location nearest the scene. If the area is not clearly visible, you may want to have several people helping “flag down” EMS.

The person doing crowd control responsibilities

1. Limit scene to necessary people only. Move bystanders away. 

2. If CPR is in progress, there will need to be several people available to do chest compressions, etc. Determine a couple of people trained in CPR that can assist with this. Have them stand a few feet to the side behind the person doing chest compressions. 

3. If the family is present, have someone stand with them for support. Do not remove the family but try to prevent them from hindering care. 

Person to notify emergency contacts responsibilities

1. Obtain information to relay to the family and Jana Elliott, event director.

2. Information you may need to share with the family may include:

3. Your name

4. Brief description of the incident leading up to the injury

5. The current condition of the individual

6. Any treatment received

7. To which hospital individual will be transported. 

8. Be prepared to give family directions to the hospital if needed. 

Good Samaritan Laws in North Carolina: In North Carolina, these laws apply to anyone acting in an unpaid capacity rendering medical assistance. For instance, this would apply to a physician giving care at a free clinic, a bystander giving first aid care, a volunteer fire person, etc. 

• Any person who renders first aid or emergency assistance at the scene of a motor vehicle crash cannot be liable in a civil action for their acts or omissions unless there was wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing. [NC State Statute §20-166(d)] (NC DOT Website) 

• North Carolina General Statute Section 90-21.14 provides that the person who uses an AED to attempt to save or to save a life shall be immune from civil liability unless the person was grossly negligent or intentionally engaged in wrongdoing when rendering the treatment. 

• North Carolina General Statute Section 90-21.15, provides for three classes of persons or entities who are exempt from civil liability related to the procurement and maintenance of AEDs: The person or entity that provides the cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED training to a person using an AED; The person or entity responsible for the site where the AED is located when the unit has provided for a program of training; A North Carolina licensed physician who writes a prescription, without compensation, for an AED. 

• These laws DO NOT apply to individuals performing the skills that they are being paid to do while they are on the clock. (Paramedics employed as such, physicians working in the office or hospital, etc.)

Lightning Guidelines

Lightning has consistently been 1 of the top 3 causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. Adult staff and youth team leaders are asked to closely monitor weather conditions and advise the Executive and Operations Directors should condition warrant seeking safe shelter. A determination will be made as to the need to move campers and staff based on the severity and duration of weather conditions. 

A flash to bang count of 30 seconds or more will be used as a minimal determinant of when to suspend or not suspend activities.  After the first flash of lightning is seen, a count will commence. Counting is ceased when the associated thunder is heard. If the count is less than or equal to 30, activity should be stopped and individuals moved to safe shelter. When the count is divided by 5, the resulting number will determine the distance in miles the storm is from your location. Waiting 30 or more seconds after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder is recommended before athletic or recreational activities are resumed. 

Lightning safety strategies include avoiding taking shelter under trees and avoiding open fields and spaces.

Safe Shelter  

• Interior bathrooms

• Interior hallways

• Gym (if window/exterior door free)

Care for Lightning Victims

• Survey scene for safety

• Call 911

• Only move victim if necessary (may need to move to safe shelter)

• Refer to plan for Plan For Acute Care for Emergency Situations for further guidance

Concussion Treatment Guidelines

Traumatic brain injury caused by impact to the head disrupts normal brain function and may or may not result in a loss of consciousness. It may be the result of a fall or a blow to the head or body that causes your head and brain to move quickly back and forth. The use of protective headgear during exercise can greatly decrease the risk of concussion. 

Concussions are cumulative. Each time you get a concussion, the easier it is to get one in the future. Always ask a person who has just experienced a head injury if they have ever had a previous concussion. 

Persons participating in summer camps and mentor programs that experience a concussion must receive medical clearance to return to sports-related activities during any Heroes Helping Heroes associated event. 

There are many signs and symptoms a person may experience following concussions that may affect their thinking, emotions/moods, physical abilities, or sleep. 

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A person should be directed to call their primary care physician in the following situations: 

• A person struck a hard object with their head but did not lose consciousness

• Mild dizziness or nausea after a head injury

• Loss of memory (amnesia) for just a few minutes 

• Mild headache with no vision disturbances 

911 should be called if a person has:

• Severe head trauma, i.e. a fall from more than the height of the person or a hard fall onto a hard surface or object with resulting bleeding or laceration

• Any child that loses consciousness as the result of a head injury

• Prolonged loss of consciousness (longer than 2 minutes) 

• Any delayed loss of consciousness (i.e. a person is knocked out momentarily, then is awake & talking, then loses consciousness again)

• Vomiting more than once

• The confusion that does not go away quickly

• Extreme drowsiness, weakness, or inability to walk

• Severe headache

• Saying the same thing over & over again

• Someone who takes Wayfarin/Coumadin (blood thinner) for existing medical problems

• If the person fails to regain consciousness after 2 minutes, or the injury is very severe even if 2 minutes have not passed, DO NOT MOVE the person. Prevent movement of the neck, as the movement of the neck, may result in spinal injuries. If the person needs to vomit, carefully roll the person onto their side WITHOUT turning the head. 

• Call 911 immediately for help

If you are unsure of the severity of the injury, always ere on the side of caution. Call 911.

Spinal Cord Injury Guidelines

• Any person suspected of having a spinal cord injury SHOULD NOT BE MOVED and should be managed as though a spinal cord injury does exist. 

• The person’s airway, breathing, circulation, neurological status, and level of consciousness should be assessed. 

• The person should not be moved unless absolutely necessary to maintain airway, breathing, or circulation. 

• If the person should be moved, they should be placed in a supine position (flat on back) while maintaining spinal immobilization. Only trained medical staff should do this. Do not allow bystanders or untrained volunteers to move an injured person. 

• CALL 911