Crime and Equipment Policies for Sports Organizations

Source: sadlersports.com - Crime and Equipment Policies for Sports Organizations
Author: John M. Sadler

The difference is important

Some administrators who make the insurance purchasing decisions for sports organizations are confused over the difference between Crime Insurance and Equipment Insurance.  They mistakenly believe that theft of equipment by outsiders or vandalism of equipment is a crime covered by a Crime Policy.  This is not correct.

Here is an easy way to distinguish between the two policies:

Equipment Insurance = Loss of sports equipment due to fire, wind, vandalism, theft, etc.

Crime Insurance = Employee/Volunteer theft of equipment or embezzlement of funds.

Of course, the above explanation is an over simplification, but it is an easy way to understand the main differences between the two policies.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/the-difference-between-crime-and-equipment-insurance-for-sports-organizations/

Medical Emergencies in Youth Sports

Source: sadlersports.com - Medical Emergencies in Youth Sports
Author: John M. Sadler

CPR and first aid training for coaches is critical

Sadler Sports and Recreation Insurance has always been a strong advocate of youth sports coaches and volunteers receiving first aid and emergency training. Injuries and medical emergencies can occur anywhere, at anytime to anyone, especially in a sporting environment. Coaches and other adults in attendance during practices and play have to be able to respond in such cases. Unfortunately, only 40 percent of youth coaches have any safety training, according to a 2012 SafeKids Worldwide survey.

There’s really no excuse for such lack of training because certification classes in first aid and CPR are offered in every community for free or very little cost. It’s the responsibility of the sports organization and local community to ensure that coaches and volunteers have access to the training needed to respond appropriately to an injury or life-threatening event.

Empowering your volunteers

In particular, the education of volunteers in safety procedures strengthens the sports program. Volunteers offer their time and energy in so many capacities. They should be given the tools they need to be an even greater help, which means safety training or recertification at no cost to them. And it’s important to remember that coaches and volunteers serve as safety role models for the youth with whom they’re working. Older athletes should be encouraged to register for CPR and first aid certification courses, as well.

No matter what sport you’re involved with, the unexpected can occur. Here are a few examples of emergency situations where immediate administration of first-aid made all the difference to the injured person.

• An Alabama high school football player collapsed during the first practice of the season. Coaches and the athletic trainer sprang into action, quickly determining a case of cardiac arrest after seeing no signs of concussion, heat stroke or dehydration. The trainer used the school’s AED while waiting for EMTs to arrive on the scene. The teen survived, thanks to the safety training his coaches had received.


• An Oregon varsity high school basketball game was unexpectedly interrupted when an official collapsed on the court. Quick thinking staff, students and medical professionals in the stands rushed to his aid, administering CPR until an ambulance arrived.


• An 8-year-old youth baseball player collapsed after being hit in the chest by a batted ball. It was his good fortune that two off-duty paramedics who were in the stands were able to administer CPR until paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital.

You can’t count on there being someone nearby who will know what to do in a medical emergency. Whether the injured person is one of the athletes, a trainer, an official or a fan in the stands, the coaches are who people will look to for help in an emergency.

Getting the necessary training

The American Red Cross offers CPR/AED training as well as specific first aid, health and safety training for sports coaches. Because CPR techniques and use of AEDs on children and adults differ, it’s important that coaches receive training for medical assistance for both age groups

The National Alliance for Youth Sports encourages all volunteer coaches get CPR training. Their website offers member coaches access to a first aid and CPR section full of safety information, including how to develop an emergency action plan. NAYS also offers free concussion training for coaches and volunteers.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/medical-emergencies-youth-sports/

Special Events May Require Special Coverage

Source: sadlersports.com - Special Events May Require Special Coverage
Author: John M. Sadler

Safety should be priority No. 1

Many for profit and not for profit organizations hold special events throughout the year. These can be tournaments, banquets, marathons, fundraisers, award ceremonies or simply family days that include fun activities and entertainment. A lot of planning and organization are required to ensure these events are successful. One element of the planning stage that should never be overlooked is determining whether your insurance program includes the coverage needed for a safe event for everyone involved – hosts, participants, volunteers, vendors and guests.

There are risks involved in hosting and managing special events that may require either added short-term or annual coverage. Beyond checking with your agent as to whether your event is adequately protected, below is a list of areas that require particular attention during the planning stages.

Vendors

Vendors can include caterers, tent and equipment rentals, concessions, security, and parking attendants. It’s important to research your vendors well because poor service or a mishap on their part can spoil an entire event – think of the potential consequences of a collapsed tent or food poisoning. It’s critical that each of your vendors provide you with a valid certificate of insurance evidencing General Liability with a limit of at least $1 million each occurrence and that they can add your organization as an additional insured on their policy.

Venues

It’s not unheard of for the actual venue of an event to be a factor that causes an accident or injury claim. Stages can collapse, fire exits get blocked, and severe weather can trigger the need for fast evacuations. The more knowledge you have about the number of people attending the event, the electrical equipment needed, and potential for severe weather, the better prepared you will be. For indoor events, make sure you know the emergency protocols of the building, which includes knowing where all the fire extinguishers, exits and stairwells are located. For outdoor events, be sure the terrain and any light/sound rigging are properly installed. Monitor the weather in the days leading up to the event as well as during the event – storms can pop up unexpectedly with disastrous results. There are weather apps for smartphone that can alert you to severe weather watches and warnings.

Emergency Planning

Every event should have a unique emergency plan which all staff and volunteers receive and sign that they have read it. The emergency plan should include who has the authority to shut the event down or ask a vendor to vacate. Sudden storms, a shooter in the area, or a vendor with a lapsed permit are only a few examples of when someone may need to make an on-the-spot decision.  The emergency plan should also include a protocol for announcing a closing or changes in the event programming. It goes without saying that all event staff and volunteers should be familiar with the event emergency plan, to include medical emergencies, lost children, crime and severe weather.

Security

Security often is something that tends to get “overlooked” because it doesn’t generate income. However, security should be considered an investment that reduces your risk of liability, which is just as good or even better than income. Below are some security tips that can make for a much safer event for everyone involved.

• Volunteers are a great resource, but don’t use them for security enforcement purposes, such as dealing with unruly people, enforcing parking or alcohol regulations, or providing first aid. It’s best to have trained medical and law enforcement professionals handling these duties.


• Using teachers, senior/varsity athletes and other community leaders is also not a good idea when it comes to maintaining order in the crowd. These temporary-authority figures aren’t always respected by others when they’re out of their element.


• If you pay for professional security, don’t scrimp. Going with the cheapest security service may not be your wisest decision. Are their employees simply hired staff or trained personnel? Ask what types of sports events and what size crowds can they handle. Ask for examples of situations they managed to control and get references.

Sadler offers Special Event insurance and one of our insurance experts would be happy to help you determine what coverage your event needs. Call us today at (800) 622-7370 or simply request a quick quote now.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/special-events-require-special-coverage-2/

The Positive Impact of Concussion Awareness

Source: sadlersports.com - The Positive Impact of Concussion Awareness
Author: John M. Sadler

Reporting and treatment in youth football on the rise

Injury data taken from the county’s largest youth football organization, American Youth Football (AYF) paints a bright picture. The data indicates that recent increased awareness and education of administrators, coaches, parents, and players is resulting in greater concussion identification and more aggressive medical treatment and follow up.

According to claims data from the AYF-endorsed Accident insurance plan, the rise in incidents of concussions to total injuries reported began in 2011. This coincides with the media’s first reports on high profile concussion lawsuits and alarming injury studies. The trend continued in 2012 and 2013.

Percentage of concussions to total injuries:

2005 – 2010       6.7%  average

2011                11.5%

2012                16.4%

2013                16.4%

What the numbers mean

This is concrete evidence that educational awareness and concussion recognition, treatment, removal, and return to play protocols are having a positive impact on protecting youth, according to John Sadler, president of Sadler Sports Insurance. In the past, many concussions were missed or ignored. When concussions were identified, parents tended to self-treat with a wait-and-see approach. Now, many more concussions and potential concussions are being identified with more emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, and follow ups with concussion experts who are critical in helping parents and athletes making return-to-play decisions.

Education is critical

We believe and statistics prove that the more you know about concussions, the better prepared you are to deal with them. We encourage you to read our other articles on concussions, which include information on American Youth Football’s concussion risk management initiatives.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/positive-impact-concussion-awareness/

Electronic Signatures on Waiver Release Forms

Source: sadlersports.com - Electronic Signatures on Waiver Release Forms
Author: John M. Sadler

Can they be accepted?

Actual Client Question:

We were wondering if you require hard signatures on the release of liability form, player parent contract, code of ethics? We do online registration where everyone has their own password to login to their child’s registration, where we have “I Accept” buttons.  In the past, we have had the parents click those buttons and then we have printed the forms and had the parents come to another registration to supply a hard signature. Do you require a hard signature for insurance purposes or would the trigger button hold up in the event of a claim? What is the guideline for electronic signatures?

Answer:

I am not aware of any current court cases that provide a definitive answer to the question of whether electronic signatures on waiver/release forms will likely be upheld. I recently interviewed the claims department manager and general counsel for one of our largest insurance carriers in the sports insurance niche. They indicated that they did not want to inhibit e-commerce by not accepting electronic signatures on waiver/release agreements, but would be watching carefully for any court cases on this issue.

For now, electronic waiver/release forms are generally being accepted by the insurance carriers.

However, I have concerns that should be addressed. First, the electronic signature should be stronger than simply clicking “I Agree.” It should require the full name of the parent who is signing. Second, there must be a place for the minor participant to sign as well. Some may question this, but it is an absolute must. The minor must sign in order to trigger the assumption of risk defense as the waiver/release serves as the risk warning and the acceptance of risk by the minor. If these additional electronic safeguards can’t be initiated, I would advise the use of a paper waiver/release with a hard signature to supplement the electronic registration.

Of course, it goes without saying that the waiver/releases must be properly worded to be given weight in court; so many of them violate the basic principles of contract law. A copy of a sample waiver/release can be found in our risk management library.

– John Sadler

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/are-electronic-signatures-accepted-on-waiver-release-forms/

New concussion test detects specific symptoms

Source: sadlersports.com - New concussion test detects specific symptoms
Author: John M. Sadler

Hope for faster recovery times

Some athletes bounce back after a mild concussion. Others take months. That’s because there are six different kinds of concussion, each identifiable by symptoms exhibited by the concussed patient: balance issues, migraine headaches, vision problems, cervical (neck) problems and mood and anxiety.

A new test that detects concussion symptoms that current tests can miss has been developed by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center researchers. The test focuses on the vestibular ocular system, where vision, movement and balance coincide. The vestibular ocular system, located in the inner ear, is what helps the eyes stay focused on a target when the head moves about.

What researchers observed

The symptoms exhibited in the worst concussions are dizziness, vision issues and fogginess, according to Michael Collins, director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. These symptoms are frequently missed in the tests currently used to diagnose concussions.

Vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS) was 90 percent accurate in identifying patients with a concussion, according to the American Journal of Sports Medicine article. Diagnosing a concussion is fairly simple, but the VOMS test diagnoses the exactly type of concussion.

There are five specific areas VOMS assesses: eyes following a moving object, rapid eye movement, stabilization of images while head is in motion, dizziness, and the points where eyes can hold together without double vision. It only takes a few minutes to administer the test and the only tools needed are a metronome and tape measure. Results are based on the immediate responses of participants when asked about their symptoms after focusing on an object or moving their head back and forth quickly.

Improvements in treatment

Research participants consisted of concussed patients five days after their original injury. The VOMS test picked up impairments in 60% of the participants that could have been easily missed using current diagnostic procedures.

Adding VOMS to the other tests used to determine neurocognitive deficiencies could mean a significant change in both diagnosing and treating concussions, said Collins. Immediately identifying vestibular and ocular concussions could decrease significantly how long it takes to treat them.

For more information on long-term recovery concussions please read “Skip practice, and the books, following a concussion.” 

Source: Jack Kelly, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 Oct. 2014

 

 

 

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/concussion-test-detects-specific-symptoms/

Injury Claims Unique to Health Clubs

Source: sadlersports.com - Injury Claims Unique to Health Clubs
Author: John M. Sadler

What they are and how to reduce risk of occurrences

You work too hard at running your health club to risk it all. But it could easily happen if a client were to sue over something you simply overlooked. Health club General Liability claims typically arise out of the condition of the premises and equipment. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the facility should be performed, and clients always properly instructed on use of the equipment. The three most common claims unique to health clubs and fitness centers are:

• Falls while stepping on or off of a moving treadmill. which is usually a user error . However, a liability claim can be filed if the injured person did not receive proper instruction on use of the treadmill.


• Slips/falls in wet areas. These claims usually occur in locker rooms and sauna, Jacuzzi and pool areas. Such falls are best prevented with non-slip mats and warning signage.


• Slips/falls in exercise classes. Participants in group exercise classes slip or fall off step platforms and floors that become wet with perspiration and/or condensation from water bottles.

General Liability Risk Management

Steps can be taken to reduce the risk of injuries and claims being made against your facility.

Equipment Maintenance

• Document and retain maintenance and repairs


• Equipment safety signage should never be removed


• Cardio and strength equipment should be checked daily


• Power cords should be taped down to prevent trips and falls

Wet Areas

• Non-slip floor mats and safety grab bars should be securely installed at showers/saunas/Jacuzzi exits


• Signs warning “CAUTION: WET AREA” should be permanently displayed.


• Members should be encouraged to wear non-slip footwear in wet areas

Group Exercise Area

The condition of group exercise equipment and floors should be checked daily, particularly worn step treads and worn, wet or damaged sections of the floor

Professional Liability Risk Management

Steps can be taken to reduce the risk injury claims being made against your facility resulting from something a staff member or independent contractor does or says (or fails to do or say).

Waiver/Release Forms

• Have all clients, members and guests sign a waiver or release before using any part the facility. Members and clients should sign a new waiver/release upon renewal each year.


• Waivers should state that “instruction on all equipment and facilities has been provided and/or offered” to the individual.

Instruction

• Fitness staff should physically demonstrate all equipment for new members and guests.


• Renewing members should be offered refresher instruction and instructed on use of any newly purchased equipment.

Staff

• Staff should all be trained in the proper use of all equipment upon hire and receive training on newly purchased equipment.


• Fitness staff should be made aware of the policy they are expected provide proper equipment instruction to members and guests.


• Staff should not exceed their qualifications for fitness and/or health training . Only staff with proper nutritional or medical certifications should offer recommendations in these areas.


• Independent contractors should offer proof of individual professional liability coverage before working in the facility.

Emergency Procedures

• All employees should receive a copy and acknowledge by signature receipt of the facility’s emergency procedures plan. This plans should include what steps to take in the event of injury, illness, fire, power outage, severe weather, etc.


• The emergency plan should be reviewed with staff regularly during the year.


• Staff who work on the fitness floor should be CPR and first aid certified. At least one CPR and first aid trained staff member should be on the floor at all times.


• If the facility has an automatic external defibrillator (AED), at least one staff member with AED training should be on site at all times.

If you have questions regarding risk factors, please call us at (800) 622-7370, and you can visit our Health Club Insurance page to find a plan that suits your specific needs. We specialize in these areas:

Circuit Training

Day Spas

Exercise Studios

Fitness Clubs

Health Clubs

Pilates Studios

Yoga Studios

 

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/injury-claims-unique-health-clubs/

Controlling the Non-owned Auto Exposure in Sports

Source: sadlersports.com - Controlling the Non-owned Auto Exposure in Sports
Author: John M. Sadler

Coverage for a serious risk

It’s a must for most sports and recreation organizations to carry Non-owned and Hired Auto Liability insurance, which can be a stand alone policy or part of the General Liability policy. Very few sports administrators understand the importance of this coverage and what they should be doing to protect their insurance carrier from ever having to pay a claim.

A non-owned auto is one that is not owned by the sports or recreation organization, but is instead owned by an employee or volunteer or borrowed from an organization such as a church. If a non-owned vehicle is involved in an accident while on association business, the following parties can normally be sued: the vehicle owner, the driver, and any organization for whose purpose the errand is being run. In other words, the sports organization can be sued for their vicarious liability of their staff member.

Its important to note that Non-owned Auto Liability insurance does not cover the driver or damage to the vehicle. It only covers the association that is the named insured on the policy. The driver will have to rely on his or her own Personal Auto Insurance olicy to provide liability and physical damage protection.

I came across some excellent loss control material from Philadelphia Insurance Company on the topic of controlling the Non-owned Auto Liability risk in the sports and recreation context. This exposure represents an infrequent but high severity risk where damages can easily exceed $1 million. The insurance carriers that insure sports and recreation organizations are concerned about this exposure because it’s difficult to collect the proper premium for a low frequency/high severity risk. Sports organizations need to take this risk very seriously and implement the recommended controls.

Here are some links that you will want to check out:

Case studies on actual Non-owned Auto Liability losses in the non profit association context where damages exceeded $1 million

Personal vehicle usage precautions

Driver eligibility criteria

Driver training and motivation

Source: Philadelphia Insurance Company, Hired And Non-owned Automobiles, Large Loss Lessons Learned

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/controlling-the-non-owned-auto-exposure-in-sports/

When Youth Sports Teams Move Up One Year

Source: sadlersports.com - When Youth Sports Teams Move Up One Year
Author: John M. Sadler

Is it safe in all age categories?

What liability exposure exists for administrators and coaches who allow a younger sports team to play up in an older age category? That question was asked by a visitor to our website:

“I am struggling with a team playing up a year in age U12 Boys moving to U13 Boys in soccer. What are your thoughts? And do you know of any lawsuits. I am on the board and I want to be able to answer any questions.”

 

We invited a guest expert to respond to that for us. Gil Fried is an attorney and professor at the University of New Haven who provided the following answer:

“I am not familiar with any lawsuits from a younger group moving up one age category.  If they moved up several years the proportional difference in skill and size could open a door to liability.  Since the potential for in jury exists at all soccer levels, I would suggest that the children in the 12-year-old group and their parents be sent a letter indicating the potential concern that since younger kids are playing against older kids there could be a chance for injuries. The letter should be clear and allow parents to pull their child if they are concerned without any retribution.”

 

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/should-sport-team-be-allowed-to-move-up-one-year-in-age-category/

Soccer Goal Tipping Hazards

Source: sadlersports.com - Soccer Goal Tipping Hazards
Author: John M. Sadler

Unanchored goals pose danger to players

I came across a fantastic CBS News video that explains exactly how unanchored soccer goals can tip over and seriously injure or kill a child. At least one child fatality  and 200 injuries from tipped soccer goals are reported each year. Soccer goals can weigh several hundred pounds and cause catastrophic bodily damage, such as a crushed skull or broken limbs, when they tip over and come in contact with players. Coaches, players, and parents need to be educated on this topic and should check soccer goals prior to every practice and game to make sure they are properly anchored.

Sports General Liability insurance carriers that insure soccer organizations must often absorb full policy limit lawsuits resulting from these death claims.

You can view the video by following this link.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/video-explains-soccer-goal-tip-over-hazards/