MAJOR INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES

Little League managers and coaches need to consider the possibility of a major incident occurring during a Little League sponsored practice or baseball game.  Major incidents can include earthquakes, power failure, and terrorist type incidents, to name just a few.  Managers, coaches, and league officers are in a leadership role during these types of incidents.  Pre-planning is necessary to be successful.

A majority of the team’s activities occur while outdoors and in the confines of a sports complex.  It is impossible to cover every type of possible incident, but there are a couple of simple practices that can be developed to assist in the management of a major incident.  The manager is responsible for the safety of the players and coaching staff and should establish an emergency meeting location in a safe place at the sports complex.  It should be a location away from the playing field.  The manager must bring his supplied first aid kit and contact information for all of the players under his charge.  The manager should share his/her Major Incident plan with the parents of his assigned players.

In the event of a major earthquake, people who are outdoors are vulnerable to injury from falling objects.  In most playing field locations, the safest place is in the center of the field.  Before an incident, survey the environment for overhead power lines and lighting standards.  Be sure to identify a location that would minimize exposure to these falling objects.  Players should be instructed to stay with the coaching staff until the player’s parent(s) take responsibility.  The parent or player needs to be sure that the manager is aware of the player’s status.

Power failure has a more significant effect if it occurs during darkness.  A manager should have a flashlight, or other lighting device, in his equipment bag to deploy in the event of a lighting failure.  The manager should instruct his players to stay with him until the player’s parents come to take responsibility for the player.

Terrorist type incidents vary in how they may occur.  Basic human instinct is to react in flight or fear (freeze).  In the event of an active shooter (someone with a gun who is discharging it in close proximity to others) players should be instructed to run in a direction away from the perpetrator.  Players should be instructed that when the shooting stops and the sirens of the responding emergency personnel stop (meaning that they are on scene and neutralizing the threat) then the players are to assemble at the emergency rallying location so that the manager can account for all of their players.  The manager will be able to arrange for the safe reuniting of the player with this parent(s).

In almost every type of incident, the team’s manager can be of the most assistance by being able to account for his players.  Have the player list and the parents’ contact information readily available at all practices and games.  Be prepared to administer first aid and summon the necessary emergency response personnel.