Table 2.

Online Interview: Open-Ended Questions^a

1. Do you feel qualified and prepared to handle an emergency situation such as exertional heat stroke or cardiac arrest?
1a. Do you feel you should gain training in emergency care procedures?
2. What strategies, if any, do you implement into your practices to prevent exertional heat stroke?
2a. Does your school have an emergency action plan spelling out what to do in the case of an athlete suffering from exertional heat stroke or other emergency situations?
3. There has been a lot of attention placed upon the role of the coach, especially following the case of Max Gilpin (Kentucky). Do you believe the coach has a role in preventing sudden death in sport?
3a. What is your opinion of the case, if you are aware of it?
3b. How realistic do you feel a case of sudden death is for your team?
4. What environmental conditions would lead you to alter practice and/or games?
4a. Please explain how you would alter your schedule in accordance with the environmental conditions you just listed
4b. Are there any environmental conditions that are cause for concern in the state in which you coach? If so, please explain how you prepare for the possible issues that can arise because of the conditions
5. Have you ever had a case of an athlete suffering from exertional heat stroke? If so, please describe the situation.
5a. What signs did you notice?
5b. Did you have an athletic trainer present?
5c. What was the course of treatment?
6. Have you had any experience with a case of sudden death or an emergency situation (spine boarding, concussion, etc)?
6a. Please describe the situation and the course of treatment
7. Please describe your previous experiences with having an athletic trainer on staff
7a. What role do you believe that an athletic trainer plays in health care and high school athletics?
8. Are you in support of having an athletic trainer available during practices and games at your high school? Please explain.
8a. What is your rationale for having or not having an athletic trainer onsite?
8b. What do you believe the athletic trainer is qualified to do for athletes?
9. What do you believe is the extent of knowledge that an athletic trainer has and the extent to their practical skills in dealing with an emergency situation?
10. What barriers do you perceive as the reason for a lack of athletic trainers employed at the secondary school level? What would you think is the biggest reason why secondary schools do not hire an athletic trainer?
10a. If you have an athletic trainer at your school: Why do you think other schools are not following along with hiring athletic trainers to provide medical care for the school's athletes?
10b. If you do NOT have an athletic trainer at your school: What reasons exist for not hiring an athletic trainer at your school? Who makes the ultimate decision as to whether or not an athletic trainer is hired at the school?

^aQuestionnaire reprinted with original wording.