Read the full Emergency Action Plan (PDF)
The page below is a quick reference. Please read the full plan for more detailed information.
1. Call 911
Tell them:
- Your name
- “There has been a suspected [type of injury] at [location]”
- “Please send an ambulance to [address]. I will meet them there.”
- Ask how long they will be
- Give them your phone number
Then send someone to the driveway entrance to wave the ambulance in, and clear cars out of the way.
2. Where you are
Give the dispatcher the full street address. Do not just say “the soccer fields.”
| Orchard Park Soccer Complex | 6909 Milestrip Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| Brush Mountain Park | 4500 California Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| Baker Road Soccer Fields | 3330 Baker Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| Orchard Park High School | 4040 Baker Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| Eggert Road Elementary | 3580 Eggert Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| Ellicott Elementary | 5180 Ellicott Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| S. Davis Elementary | 51 S. Davis St, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
| Windom Elementary | 3870 Sheldon Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 |
3. AED and first aid
There is an AED and a first aid kit on site at the Orchard Park Soccer Complex.
The AED is being relocated to the pavilion. Signage at the complex marks its current location.
Coaches: confirm where the AED is before your first session of the season. Do not wait until you need it.
Every team should also carry its own basic first aid kit.
4. Who does what
Decide this before the season starts, not during an emergency.
Charge Person (usually the head coach)
Stays with the injured player and directs care.
Call Person (usually an assistant coach or team manager)
Calls 911, reports back to the Charge Person, clears the access road, and meets the ambulance.
Name a backup for both.
Keep player medical forms in a first aid bag at all times and keep them current.
5. Emergency numbers
| Emergency | 911 |
| Orchard Park Police | 716-662-6444 |
| Orchard Park Fire | 716-662-5774 |
| OP Recreation Department | 716-662-6450 |
| Mercy Hospital of Buffalo | 716-826-7000 565 Abbott Rd, Buffalo, NY 14220 |
| Bertrand Chaffee Hospital | 716-592-2871 224 E. Main St, Springville, NY 14141 |
| Orchard Park Soccer Club | coachsupportopsc@googlegroups.com |
6. Lightning and severe weather
If you hear thunder, stop play. No exceptions.
- Nowhere outdoors is safe in a thunderstorm. Stop activity even if you have not seen lightning yet.
- Get everyone to a safe location.
- Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning before going back out.
- The 30 minutes starts over every time you hear thunder or see a flash.
For other weather emergencies, shelter in or under the pavilion until it is safe, and contact club staff.
7. Head injuries and concussion
If a player takes a blow to the head, take them out of play.
You cannot see a concussion, and symptoms can take hours or days to appear. When in doubt, sit them out.
Watch for
Headache or pressure · nausea or vomiting · dizziness or balance problems · blurry or double vision · sensitivity to light or noise · feeling foggy or sluggish · confusion · memory trouble · moving clumsily · answering slowly · mood or personality changes · loss of consciousness
Go to the emergency room right away if:
One pupil is larger than the other · they cannot be woken up · the headache keeps getting worse · weakness, numbness, or poor coordination · repeated vomiting · slurred speech · seizures · they do not recognize people or places · they become more confused or agitated · any loss of consciousness
A player who has had a head injury does not return to play that day, and does not return at all until a health care professional clears them. Coming back too soon risks permanent damage.
Parents: tell your coach if your child has had a concussion before, even in another sport.
8. Heat
Heat illness is not just a hot-day problem. Warm, humid days are dangerous too.
- Water should be available and unlimited at every practice and game. Players should drink before and after, not just during.
- Ease into the heat. Build up duration and intensity over the first 10 to 14 days of hot weather.
- Keep ice or cold compresses on hand.
Pull a player and cool them down if you see:
Disorientation · dizziness or weakness · unusual behavior · headache · vomiting
If a player is not acting like themselves and it is hot, do not wait. Check on them.
9. Before and after every game (coaches)
Before
- Arrive 45 minutes early
- Unlock the equipment room; locate the first aid kit and AED
- Unlock the bathrooms
- Take out the corner flags for your game
After
- Return the corner flags and lock the equipment room
- If your event is the last one at the complex, close and lock the bathrooms
Full document
The complete Emergency Action Plan includes the parent consent and medical release form, the player injury report form, and the full club checklist.