Safety Guidelines
Incident Reporting
- If police/fire are contacted for any reason, call Lemont Park District and provide an update of the situation.
- If any issues with behavior, rules, bats, scheduling, etc. contact LBSC and communicate the issue.
- AEDs are located in the sheds for any emergency usage. If you see an AED beeping, please let the Lemont Park District know, so they can replace the battery.
CPR and AED Information
AED's are located at:
- Centennial Quad: Shed, Outdoor Pool, Centennial Community Center
- Bambrick Quad: Shed
NOTE: Watching the video below does not constitute as "training" or towards the compliance requirement. Training courses as provided by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or something similar would apply towards the certification/compliancy requirement.
Your Role in Minimizing Injuries
The coach/manager's primary role is to minimize the risk of injury to the players under the coach/manager's supervision. Here are a few general guidelines/examples for your reference:
- Properly Plan the Activity
- Teach the skills of the sport in the correct progression.
- Keep written records of your practice plans. Don’t deviate from your plans without good cause.
- Provide Proper Instruction
- Make sure that the athletes are in proper condition to participate.
- Teach players the rules and the correct skills and strategies of the game.
- Warn Players of Inherent Risk
- Warn players about potentially harmful conditions or situations such as swinging a bat around others or throwing the ball in an unsafe manner.
- Provide a Safe Physical Environment
- Monitor current environmental conditions (i.e. temperature, wind chill, and severe weather warnings).
- Periodically inspect the playing areas/dugout for hazards - Remove all hazards.
- Prevent improper or unsupervised use of the facilities while you are responsible.
- Use Adequate and Proper Equipment
- Make sure that players are using proper safety equipment.
- Inspect equipment regularly.
- Teach players how to fit use and inspect their equipment.
- Evaluate Players for Injury
- Withhold an athlete from practice/games if the player is unable to compete without pain or loss of function.
- Supervise the Activity Closely
- Do not allow athletes to practice difficult or potentially dangerous skills without proper supervision.
- Forbid horseplay.
- Provide Appropriate Emergency Assistance
- Use only those skills that you are qualified to administer.
- If you are the least bit unsure as to whether an injury requires emergency assistance, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY and then contact the parent.
- NEVER ADMINISTER ANY MEDICATIONS.
Prevention of Heat Illness
The IHSA Board of Directors approved the Heat Acclimatization Policy and includes some of the following guidelines for your reference:
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are severe cramping of the skeletal muscles, particularly those most heavily used during exercise. Heat cramps are treated by moving the individual to a cooler location and administering fluids or a saline solution.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion, accompanied by such symptoms as fatigue, dizziness, and vomiting, is caused by the body’s cardiovascular system not meeting the body’s needs; heat exhaustion typically occurs when your blood volume decreases, by either excessive fluid loss or mineral loss from sweating.
Heat Stroke
The most dangerous type of heat illness, heat stroke is characterized by a rise in internal body temperature, cessation of sweating, hot and dry skin, rapid pulse and respiration, high blood pressure, confusion, and unconsciousness.
In addition to immediately contacting medical personnel, individuals can treat heat stroke by cooling the person’s body in a bath of water or ice or wrapping the body in a wet sheet and fanning the victim.
PREVENTION
Although deaths from heat illness are rare, constant surveillance and education are necessary in order to maintain the safety and health of student-athletes.
The following practices should be observed in order to prevent any form of heat illness:
- Prevention of heat illness begins with aerobic conditioning, which provides partial acclimatization to the heat. In order to achieve heat acclimatization, student-athletes should gradually increase their exposure to hot and/or humid environmental conditions over a period of 10 to 14 days. Hydration should be maintained during training and acclimatization.
- Clothing and protective gear can increase heat stress. Frequent rest periods should be scheduled so that the gear and clothing can be loosened to allow heat loss. During the acclimatization period, it may be advisable to use a minimum of protective gear and clothing and to practice in T-shirts, shorts, socks, and shoes.
- To identify heat stress conditions, regular measurements of environmental conditions are recommended.
- Dehydration must be avoided. Fluid replacement must be readily available. Student-athletes should be encouraged to drink as much and as frequently as comfort allows. This includes both before and after practice/game.
Some student-athletes may be more susceptible to heat illness than others, and coaches need to be aware of such situations.