The Operations Center is your main source of information and resources. Security, as well as medical staff, will be located there during all hours to provide you with answers to any questions. The medical committee and EMTs will be on call each day of the festival to treat an injury or to handle an emergency. Emergency Medical Technicians are distinguishable by "Villanova Emergency Medical Service" or VEMS uniforms and medical committee members are distinguishable by their red shirts with the large white cross on the front and back. Athletic trainers and first-aid certified volunteers will also be on-site.

All Medical volunteers are CPR certified.

In case of emergency dial 610-519-7211 if on campus or 911 at any time.

When calling the Operations Center:

1. Talk to the dispatcher in a calm voice. 
2. Give the dispatcher your name, group/team name, and the nature and location of the emergency. If you are reporting an injured athlete, please give the name of the athlete. 
3. Stay on the phone so that the dispatcher can get additional information from you if needed.

In the event of rain or other inclement weather, all indoor events will continue as scheduled. Outdoor competitions will continue until officials determine competition is unsafe. At that point, competition will stop and an announcement will be made at all venues. If there is inclement weather prior to competition beginning, the plan will be to wait it out for the time being.

In the event of a rain delay, when declared by officials at that venue, athletes and coaches should proceed to any indoor competition venue for shelter. An announcement will be made at all competition sites and Olympic Town as to the status of the rain delay. Official Inclement Weather Delay updates will be posted at the Operations Center, located in the West Lounge of Dougherty Hall. When rain subsides, it will be announced as to what time competition will resume and the schedule that will be followed for each sport.

The Management Team will make every effort to conduct all events at the Fall Festival. The Games' Officials, however, have the authority to suspend or even cancel some events for the health and safety of participants. Thank you for your cooperation in this manner.

Medical Emergencies

In Case of Injury or Illness:

• All medical concerns, no matter how minor they appear, MUST be reported to the medical emergency personnel located at the competition venues and on the Villanova University campus at the Operations Center (West Lounge) in Dougherty Hall. 
• If the condition is severe, stay with the athlete or person who needs assistance. Do not move the patient. 
• Have someone seek help at the nearest emergency medical station. Send someone to find the athlete’s coach immediately. 
• If requests of the coaches or chaperones are contradicted by the nature of the physical situation, the EMT protocol for providing medical treatment will prevail. 
• If we cannot find the HOD for that delegation then we will try to reach him by cell phone or pager or leave a message at the respective hotel. 
• HOD/coach must fill out an incident report in case of injury and submit it to the appropriate SOPA liaison.

Night Injury or Illness:
If an illness or injury occurs during the night, the head of delegation is to report directly to the medical committee present at the hotel. You will be notified of these room numbers when you check into the hotel and at the first HOD meeting.

Medical Assistance Locations:
There will be a medical assistance location at each venue and one central facility on the Villanova University campus at the Operations Center, the West Lounge in Dougherty Hall. Medical assistance will also be available at the hotels during the evening. There will also be an ambulance on campus to assist with any greater injuries or emergencies to transport them to Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Medical Forms & Recording Procedures:
Medical records for the athletes will be kept on-site and will be accessible to medical personnel at all times. Coaches must have copies of their athletes’ medical release forms with them at all times or in the respective athlete’s credential holder.

Coaches should notify the parent or guardian of an injured athlete when a serious injury occurs. In case of hospitalization, records of the incident will be completed in accordance with EMT protocol and held in the Fall Festival Games file and forwarded to ASIS.

Medications:
It is the responsibility of each coach, not the athlete escorts, to make sure that the athletes requiring medication have enough for the weekend and take it as prescribed. Remember to keep track of the time and dosage in case of medical emergency.

Diet:
A balanced diet is essential to an athlete’s performance at the Festival. The diet should contain extra carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables prior to and during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival, along with a normal intake of salt. Athletes should be discouraged from eating greasy, fried, or fatty foods during the Festival. Don’t allow your athletes to overeat, especially before competition. Water stations will be provided at each venue site to help prevent dehydration.

Pre-Competition Warm-Up:
Have your athletes properly stretch with warm-up exercises before the competition. Five minutes of stretching prevents muscle pulls, strains and other injuries that may occur if these exercises are not performed. Each competition site will have warm-up areas where the athletes can stretch before competing.