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.

In this special episode, Ray Castle welcomes Ryan Hart to the AT Pit Crew Podcast. Ryan recently joined Action Medicine Consultants as the Sports Medicine Event Manager and will be sharing hosting duties on future episodes. Learn about his journey from Louisiana to Colorado and back, his experience in clinical, surgical and industrial athletic training settings, and his passion for RV travel and podcasting. Ray and Ryan swap stories about weather extremes, heat illness protocols across regions, and even a few RV mishaps—all while highlighting what’s next for the show.

• Meet Ryan Hart: Hear Ryan’s background in athletic training, including clinical and industrial experience across the Southeast and Colorado, plus his return to Mississippi to be closer to family.

• Multiple Platforms: Ryan and his wife run “Living the Dream – Life on the Road,” combining YouTube and podcasting about full-time RV life. He’s also involved in the Colorado Athletic Trainers Association’s podcast and launching a new show, “Beyond the Sidelines: Inside Athletic Training.”

• Heat Illness Across Regions: Discussion on how emergency care differs between humid southeastern states and the drier, high-altitude West—hinting at future deep dives on heat‑related protocols.

• Fun Facts: Ryan grew up around rodeo events and can operate heavy construction equipment—skills he traded in to pursue sports medicine.

• What’s Next: Expect Ryan to share hosting duties, bring fresh perspectives on emergency care, and explore topics from RV life tips to athletic training best practices.

Enjoying the AT Pit Crew Podcast? Follow and rate us on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a lap, and stay tuned for more episodes with Ryan and Ray. For resources and updates on sports emergency care, visit ActionMed.co.

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