Every fitness facility should have a well thought out and practiced emergency plan in place. Emergencies happen without warning, no two are ever alike and waiting until they happen leaves you and your facility open to liability.

For the past 5 plus years I have been a Paramedic in a busy urban EMS system. I have responded to calls in numerous fitness facilities and other public buildings and schools. The general rule of thumb is to first panic, regroup and panic again. This is where a clear and practiced emergency plan is paramount.

The average person that is not aware of how 911 works actually makes our job much more confusing. Your plan should include a designated person to make the 911 call. This should be a clear and early step in the emergency plan. Do not rush to give the 911 dispatcher info, they will gather it from you in an orderly fashion. Please realize that as the dispatcher is talking to you another dispatcher is sending an ambulance, this is a well coordinated process. Designate a person to meet and or wave in the ambulance, understand that in most areas first responders will precede the ambulance, both need to be waved in to the best location to access the patient.

Emergency cards for each member or client in your facility should be available to give the EMS crew. If the patient is unconscious or unable to talk a simple form with name, address, phone numbers, medical problems, allergies to medications and preferred hospital help expedite care and transport times.

Thankfully almost all Personal fitness certifications and facilities require CPR certification and most facilities now have automatic external defibrillators (AED), this is excellent but the majority of emergencies do not require CPR. Hypoglycemia, seizures, dehydration, medication and supplementation errors, minor traumas, and respiratory issues are more common and often more difficult to deal with.

When the EMT