Sports emergencies don’t give second chances. In this episode of the AT Pit Crew Podcast, host Ryan Hart talks with Dr. Ray Castle (CEO of Action Medco and co‑author of the July 2024 Journal of EMS paper Best Practices for Emergency Action Planning and Implementation in Athletic Settings) about contemporary emergency care equipment and supplies.

They explore how the right tools – and the right preparation – can save lives when seconds count:

• Minimum essential equipment every athletic venue must have, including CPR pocket masks, automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), personal protective equipment, bleeding‑control kits, splints and sanitation supplies

• Why AED placement matters

• Matching equipment to personnel and venue – align gear with staff qualifications and venue‑specific needs so your emergency action plan works in real life

• Equipment maintenance & documentation – best practices for regular checks, manufacturer‑recommended service intervals and documentation protocols to ensure gear is ready when needed.

• Integration with EAPs & training – how to incorporate equipment readiness into emergency action plans, practice drills and team communication.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll understand how properly selected and maintained equipment – paired with personnel training and clear protocols – builds a safety net for athletes, staff and spectators.

Call to Action: Subscribe to the AT Pit Crew Podcast so you never miss a lap. For more resources and hands‑on training, visit ActionMed.co and explore the AT Pit Crew course and the July 2024 Journal of EMS paper referenced in this episode.

Endurance races don’t just test runners — they test your entire medical operations plan. In this episode of the AT Pit Crew Podcast, Dr. Ray Castle talks with Russell Sadberry, an athletic trainer with 32 years of experience at Katy Independent High School in Texas, about how to build scalable, reality-tested medical coverage for endurance and ultra-endurance events.

Russell brings a rare 360° view from working major events like the Houston Marathon and smaller ultra races, plus insights as the spouse of an accomplished marathoner who has completed four World Major Marathons.

They break down how to design and run medical operations that protect participants from the first mile to the finish line:

• Command structure & roles

  • How to establish a clear incident command structure

  • Defining role clarity for medical volunteers at races of all sizes

• Medical footprint by event size

  • Building a right-sized medical footprint for 700-runner ultras vs. large-city marathons with thousands of participants

• Staffing mix strategies

  • Integrating athletic trainers, nurses, EMS, and community volunteers

  • Matching skills to positions so every station is staffed to its mission

• Communication & redundancy

  • Radio and phone communication protocols

  • Backup plans when primary systems fail mid-event

• Transport & hospital coordination

  • Designing transport routes and handoff plans

  • Coordinating with local hospitals for different event scales

• Supplies, equipment & environmental care

  • Essential gear for cooling, warming, and emergency care

  • Building treatment areas that can flex with patient surges

• Course design & medical coverage

  • How course layout, terrain, and access points drive resource placement

• Real-time monitoring & thresholds

  • Using weather data, participant flow, and medical encounter trends to anticipate surges

• Budgets, partnerships & sustainability

  • Budget considerations for smaller or resource-limited events

  • Creative partnership strategies with sponsors and local agencies

• Contingency planning & reunification

  • Procedures for emergencies, course stoppages, and family reunification

  • What organizers often overlook until something goes wrong

By the end of this conversation, you’ll have a practical framework for medical operations planning that scales from local ultras to world-class marathons — and keeps runners, staff, and spectators safer when the race day pressure is highest.

Call to Action:
Subscribe to the AT Pit Crew Podcast so you never miss a lap.

For more resources and continuing education on event medical operations, visit Acti...

• (00:00:02) - Emergency Medical Care
• (00:00:32) - Pit Crew: Endurance Events & Ultra Endurance Events
• (00:02:43) - General Command and Authority at Races
• (00:05:36) - What is the medical footprint of a race?
• (00:08:05) - Emergency Preparedness at an Ultra Endurance Race
• (00:10:17) - Race volunteers' critical skills
• (00:11:59) - Primary Communication Modes During an Event
• (00:14:29) - What Kind of Medical Coverage Does Trail Running Have?
• (00:19:57) - Medical Supplies and Equipment for Ultra Endurance Events
• (00:24:30) - Temperature and Cold at the Marathon
• (00:26:40) - Heat Stroke
• (00:31:58) - How to Manage the Marathon
• (00:35:19) - Endurance Events: Contingencies & After Action Reports
• (00:36:12) - Boston Marathon and Communication Plans in Action
• (00:40:18) - Five Quick Questions For Russell

Title: Measuring Systolic BP by Palpation: Your Sideline Game-Changer for Loud Environments

Description:
Chaotic sidelines and roaring crowds can make traditional auscultation impossible. In this episode of the AT Pit Crew Podcast, host Ryan Hart sits down with Dr. Ray Castle (CEO, Action Medicine Consultants) to teach athletic trainers and sports medicine pros how to accurately measure systolic blood pressure by palpation. You’ll learn step-by-step technique, when palpation is preferable to auscultation, what equipment you’ll need, and how to interpret readings for emergency decision‑making. Ray also shares a real‑world case from a seizure emergency, explains how to communicate findings to EMS, and offers practice drills and protocols to keep this essential skill sharp. They touch on integrating palpation into emergency action plans, the MIST report format, Glasgow Coma Scale and AVPU assessment tools, and more.

Key Takeaways:

• Step-by-step systolic BP palpation technique

• Situations where palpation is the best option

• Essential equipment and common mistakes

• Interpreting readings and informing care decisions

• Communicating results to EMS and integrating into EAPs

• Real-world seizure case study and practice recommendations

Call to Action:
Make sure to subscribe to the AT Pit Crew Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out www.ActionMed.co for the AT Pit Crew Podcast and other resources to strengthen your emergency response skills.