IHSA Patient Safety & Risk Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A coach notices an athlete exhibiting slurred speech and confusion after a collision. Which immediate action reflects best patient safety practice?
- Allow the athlete to rest on the sideline and monitor for 10 minutes
- Remove the athlete from play and initiate concussion protocol immediately (Correct answer)
- Administer smelling salts to assess responsiveness
- Encourage the athlete to continue if symptoms resolve within 2 minutes
Correct answer: Remove the athlete from play and initiate concussion protocol immediately
Any athlete showing concussion signs must be removed from play immediately and evaluated under established concussion protocol before return is considered.
Question 2: Which risk management document formally outlines procedures for responding to medical emergencies at a practice facility?
- Athlete health history form
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP) (Correct answer)
- Informed consent waiver
- Pre-participation physical evaluation form
Correct answer: Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is the formal document that specifies roles, communication steps, and procedures for medical emergencies at a facility.
Question 3: Under IHSA guidelines, how often should coaches review and practice the facility's Emergency Action Plan?
- Once every five years
- Only when staff changes occur
- At least annually and with all new staff (Correct answer)
- Only before championship events
Correct answer: At least annually and with all new staff
EAPs must be reviewed and rehearsed at least annually and whenever new personnel join the program to ensure readiness.
Question 4: An athlete with a known peanut allergy accidentally ingests a food product containing peanuts. The first intervention a coach should take is:
- Offer water to dilute the allergen
- Activate EMS and use the athlete's prescribed epinephrine auto-injector if available (Correct answer)
- Have the athlete lie down and apply a cold pack to the throat
- Wait five minutes to assess whether symptoms develop before calling for help
Correct answer: Activate EMS and use the athlete's prescribed epinephrine auto-injector if available
Anaphylaxis is life-threatening; immediate EMS activation and epinephrine administration are the correct first-line interventions.
Question 5: Which principle best describes 'risk transfer' in an athletic risk management program?
- Eliminating all hazardous activities from the program schedule
- Shifting financial liability to another party through insurance or waivers (Correct answer)
- Training coaches to personally handle all medical incidents
- Reducing participation numbers to lower overall exposure
Correct answer: Shifting financial liability to another party through insurance or waivers
Risk transfer moves financial or legal responsibility to another party, typically through liability insurance or properly executed waivers.
Question 6: A student-athlete discloses a pre-existing cardiac condition on the health history form. The coach's appropriate next step is:
- Clear the athlete to participate as long as they feel well
- Refer the disclosure to the school athletic trainer or team physician for medical clearance (Correct answer)
- Keep the information confidential and monitor the athlete independently
- Require the athlete to obtain a second opinion before informing medical staff
Correct answer: Refer the disclosure to the school athletic trainer or team physician for medical clearance
Pre-existing cardiac conditions require evaluation by qualified medical personnel who can determine safe participation guidelines.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a proactive risk management strategy in athletic coaching?
- Documenting an incident after it occurs to prevent future lawsuits
- Conducting pre-season equipment inspections before athletes use it (Correct answer)
- Purchasing insurance coverage after a liability claim is filed
- Reviewing injury reports at the end of the season
Correct answer: Conducting pre-season equipment inspections before athletes use it
Pre-season equipment inspections identify hazards before athletes are exposed, making it a proactive rather than reactive strategy.
IHSA Patient Safety & Risk Management 2
A coach notices an athlete exhibiting slurred speech and confusion after a collision.
Which immediate action reflects best patient safety practice?