Student Athlete - Health and Safety

The goal of John W. North High School's Athletic Department is for our student-athletes to learn life lessons and grow as individuals through sports. Through these athletic endeavors our number one priority is their health and safety. Below are resources to help student-athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone in our community keep everyone participating in sports safe.
Concussions and Return to Play
Nationwide data continues to show that many catastrophic head injuries are a direct result of injured athletes returning to play too soon, not having fully recovered from the first head injury. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control reports that approximately 3 million sports and recreational concussion occur every year.
California state law AB 25 and Education Code § 49475 state:
  1. The law requires a student athlete who may have a concussion during a practice or game to be removed from the activity for the remainder of the day.
  2. Any athlete removed for this reason must receive a written note from a medical doctor trained in the management of concussion before returning to practice.
  3. Before an athlete can start the season and begin practice in a sport, a concussion information sheet must be signed and returned to the school by the athlete and parent or guardian.
Clear communication between players, parents, coaches, and trainers is critical to the health and well being of all of our athletes.

 

North Athletic

Emergency Action Plan 


                             

 

*AED Locations (Health Office, Pool Deck, Gym and Athletic Trainer’s office RM 401 or with Athletic Trainer of game days)*

 

Athletic Trainer

Kylie Murphy

Office: 951-788-7311 ext. 63047

 

 

 

 

First Responder’s Responsibility:

  • After scene has been deemed safe, proceed to provide immediate care for injured or ill athlete.
  • Dial 911 immediately for any medical emergency and locate ATC/administration for assistance.
  • Check for patient’s responsiveness, pulse and breathing. *Know where AED is located*
  • In cases of severe bleeding, use universal precautions and apply pressure with sterile equipment to control bleeding.
  • Suspected cervical injuries, stabilize the neck and keep athlete calm until EMS arrives.
  • Administration and Athletic Training Staff must be notified for all Emergencies within athletic department.

 

Coverage Roles

Athletic Trainer’s / 1st Responders Coverage:

Hours: M-F from approximately 2:00pm- 6:00PM

  • Coverage for all home events. (Unless schedules conflict)
  • Coverage for all Varsity Football Games. (Home and away)
  • No Away Games are covered, except for Varsity Football and CIF Playoff games without any home game conflicts.
  • The Athletic Trainer/ 1st Responder are not available school holidays, or school summer sessions.

 

EMS Direction & Access Routes

Access to Baseball/Softball Field:

  • Emergency Services will enter through side gate. Baseball field access will come Chicago Ave in between Linden and 3rd St.
  • For softball, access will be through gate located at the corner of Linden and Chicago Ave.
  • Patient’s emergency contact information will be prepared and ready to be transferred to emergency personnel.
  • Coaches are to assist ATC with player/crowd control in an emergency situation

Access to Stadium:

  • Emergency Services enter through the front part of the school on 3rd St and proceed through gate entrance.
  • Corresponding personal will guide emergency services to stadium and open gates to have open access to stadium.
  • Patient’s emergency contact information will be prepared and ready to be transferred to emergency personnel.
  • Coaches are to assist ATC with player/crowd control in an emergency situation

Access to Gym:

  • Emergency Services enter through the back part of the school on Linden St and proceed through gate entrance.
  • Corresponding personal will guide emergency services to patient who needs medical attention.
  • Patient’s emergency contact information will be prepared and ready to be transferred to emergency personnel.
  • Coaches are to assist ATC with player/crowd control in an emergency situation

Heat Considerations

 

 Activity in hot or humid environments can easily cause a number of heat related illnesses. Heat illness can occur in anyone at any time. The signs and symptoms listed below usually do not occur in a stepwise manner and can change rapidly dependent on the person, situation, and activity. All signs and symptoms should be treated as serious and help sought in a timely manner. Categories of heat illness include: 

i.               Heat Syncope – generally referred to as fainting because of exposure to high environmental temperatures, vasodilatation, reduced cardiac output, and dehydration. This can occur due to long periods of standing, cessation of activity, or movement from a seated to standing position. A person who has suffered syncope will usually be dizzy, pale, and have cool, damp skin. 

 

ii.              Heat Cramps – painful muscle cramping of the body usually localized to lower or upper legs, abdomen, or upper extremities. A person suffering from heat cramps will be sweating and thirsty. 

 

iii.            Heat Exhaustion – A person suffering from heat exhaustion will have an elevated body temperature, but cool damp skin and will continue to sweat. They will be weak, dizzy, and may feel as if they will faint. Other symptoms include nausea, headache, chills, hyperventilation, and thirst. 

 

iv.            Heat Stroke Emergency help is needed immediately! A person suffering from heat stroke will be hot to the touch with dry or non-sweating skin. Due to central nervous system changes they may be disoriented, hysterical, delirious, or unconscious. Heart rate and respiration will be elevated with a decrease in blood pressure. 

 

v. Hypnoatremia– Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include nausea and vomiting, swelling of hands and feet, headache, confusion, apathy and lethargy, and altered consciousness. In severe cases seizures, pulmonary edema, and coma could occur.

Heat Index Guidelines:

Heat Index 90 to 104:

-     Strenuous outdoor activity shall be restricted

-     Students shall be encouraged to wear light clothing and drink appropriate amounts of water and sports drinks

-     Student physical activity in an indoor, air conditioned facility or in a swimming pool, is not subject to these restrictions

Heat Index 105 and above:

-     NO outdoor activity! Including physical education, athletic practices and events

-     Outdoor activity will be permitted to resume once the temperature has reached a safe level based upon the Heat Index

Thunder/Lighting:

  • Games will be able to be continued if lighting is present and still outside of the 8 mile radius.
  • Once lighting reaches 8 miles, participation will be stopped for at least 30 minutes from last thunder sound before returning to activity.
  • WhetherBug App will be used to provide live updates of storms and direction they are moving in.
  • Athletes will be moved into boys/girls locker room during duration of the break.
  • Fans will be asked to leave outdoor event and seek shelter.

 

EAP Handouts:

  • Seizures
  • Allergic Reaction
  • Asthma Attacks
  • Wound Control
  • Concussion