Dear Visiting Team,

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome you to Riverside High School.  We’re happy to have you on our campus.  This section is dedicated to helping you navigate what is available and answer some questions you might have in regards to sports medicine and safety.   

Here, you will find information regarding: our athletic training facilities, EMS transport, and local hospitals/walk-in clinics, and EAP. If you have a question that hasn’t been answered, please feel free to contact me and I will answer them or direct you to the proper person. 

I thank you once again for coming to Riverside HS and look forward to seeing your team in action.

Sincerely,
Shea Skorusa MA, LAT, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
Riverside High School
Email Shea Skorusa

Athletic Training Room: The athletic training room is located in the field house. If the visiting team is traveling without a certified athletic trainer our medical staff will be able to provide pregame taping and treatment. Prior notification should be given by the visiting teams' certified athletic trainer in advance if he/she is not traveling with the team. All pregame taping and treatment will be administered only with a written note or notification from the visiting teams' certified athletic trainer or team physician. The athletic training room policies for our athletes applies to visiting athletes as well.

Rules of Pregame Taping and Treatment of Visiting Teams: Our athletic training room is equipped with at least one taping and treatment table. If the visiting team is not traveling with a certified athletic trainer and visiting athletes need tape/treatment they must report to athletic training room at least one hour prior to the start of the game. Our certified athletic trainer will not go to the athletic training room for pregame taping/treatment for visiting athletes during warm-ups or conditioning prior to the start of the game unless the visiting team arrives late. 

Supplies for the Sideline: Water, ice, and bottles will be provided on the sideline for sporting events, except football. Visiting teams are allowed to fill their coolers with ice and/or water in the field house approximately one hour prior to the start of the game. Emergency supplies can be obtained from the certified athletic trainer covering the sporting event. If the visiting team is unable to travel with supplies please let our certified athletic trainer know ahead of time to prepare. 

Physician: Our team physician will be present at every home football game.

Please contact Shea Skorusa if questions arise regarding any of these. 

What is an emergency?

An emergency is the need for Emergency Medical Services to give further medical attention and/or transport an athlete to the hospital. It is important in these situations that coordination between the certified athletic trainer, coaches, administrative faculty/staff, and student aides be effective. This section is intended to delineate roles and outline the protocol to be followed should an emergency occur.

Emergency Action Plan: We can not always prevent an emergency from occurring, but we have an emergency action plan in place that is reviewed and practiced ensuring everyone is on the same page just incase an emergency happens. It is very important if an emergency occurs that only personnel trained in the emergency action plan responds. This will help reduce confusion and it will help the injured athlete receive the most efficient care necessary ASAP.

Life-Threatening Situations:

• Athlete has a neck or head injury

• Athlete is not conscious

• Athlete has an open fracture

• Athlete is experiencing extreme blood loss due to an injury

• Athlete is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest 

• Athletes is not breathing

• Athlete is experiencing exertional heat stroke

• Athlete is experiencing exertional sickling 

• Athlete is experiencing an asthma attack

• Athlete is experiencing an allergic reaction

Emergency Transportation Unit:

At Riverside High School, our athletic department has an ambulance service (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department) contracted for every home football event. In case of an emergency and/or transport JFRD will most likely take the athlete to St. Vincent's Riverside because it is the closest hospital to our school. If the athlete's injury is severe enough they will be transported to UF Health Jacksonville or Wolfson's Childrens Hospital which are Level-one trauma centers. (Note: Wolfson's Pediatric Trauma Status is provisional and may change)

In case of an emergency and/or transport at any home sporting events that are not football the certified athletic trainer or one of the coaches will call 911 and the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department will respond to the emergency. A member of the emergency personnel may provide transportation if the parent(s)/guardian(s) are not available. If more than one coach is at this sporting event when an athlete needs to be transported to the emergency room and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are not there, then it is required that one coach or an administrative faculty/staff member rides with the athlete.

Students and/or Students Aids may not transport athletes.

In case of an emergency and/or transport at every away football event ambulance services are provided on the sidelines. The certified athletic trainer will signal for Emergency Medical Services. If not present, then the certified athletic trainer or one of the coaches will call 911 and an ambulance service will respond to the emergency. Again, a member of the emergency personnel may provide transportation if the parent(s)/guardian(s) are not available. If more than one coach is at this sporting event when an athlete needs to be transported to the emergency room and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are not there, then it is required that one coach or an administrative faculty/staff member rides with the athlete. 

For other away sporting events if the certified athletic trainer is not present with the team, then the certified athletic trainer of the home school or a coach will call 911 and Emergency Medical Services will respond to the emergency. A member of the emergency personnel may provide transportation if the parent(s)/guardian(s) are not available. If more than one coach is at this sporting event when an athlete needs to be transported to the emergency room and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are not there, then it is required that one coach or an administrative faculty/staff member rides with the athlete. 

Students and/or Student Aides may not transport athletes.