How Strong Is Your Emergency Plan?
This past weekend, St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers fans sat in anticipation as one of the most unique game delays took place on the football field – pyrotechnics gone wrong.
Due to malfunctioning flame machines in one of the endzones, the turf field briefly caught on fire. The field was quickly extinguished and cleaned to resume the game in a timely fashion.
In the wake of this unexpected accident, have you considered how your own organization would have handled a fire on the field?
Whether gathered in a professional stadium or watching from your school’s gymnasium, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to having a prepared plan for all possible events.
Create An Evacuation Plan
Begin to create your Evacuation Plan by identifying a safe location away from your current practice/game area. In the event of an emergency, your staff and players should know where to gather a safe distance away.
For example, in the event of lightning on the field during a practice, give your team a designated shelter indoors to meet to discuss next steps.
If an evacuation emergency occurs during a spectator event, organization officials should be designated ahead of time with the responsibility of alerting spectators of the safe relocation area.
Chain Of Command
Appoint a specific staff member (or team of staff members) responsible for alerting the appropriate safety authorities and school administrators of the incident immediately.
Multiple officials should have the appropriate telephone numbers on hand to ensure immediate response.
Know Your Surroundings
If you practice and play in one location, prepare ahead of time by locating all emergency items around the premises. Check the expiration date on fire extinguishers so all equipment will work properly during the time of use.
Do you have more safety tips? Share how your organization prepares themselves for emergencies in the comments section below.
