Tagged with 'NATM'

National Athletic Training Month 2024: ATs are…Essential!

As another memorable year of NATM wraps up, we want to extend our gratitude to all athletic trainers for their unwavering dedication to athletes everywhere. You are an essential piece of championship teams, the backbones of successful athletic careers, and the guiding light in challenging recoveries. Without you, athletes would lack the crucial support for success on game day.

Throughout March, we asked you to tell us why you love being an athletic trainer and what it means to you! Your responses provided a glimpse into the impact your athletes, profession, and community hold in your hearts.

Below are just some of the inspiring answers we received.

Why Do You Love Being an Athletic Trainer?

“The best part of being an AT are the connections you make with your athletes, coaches, and the community. The longer you are part of a community, the more valuable you are, and I wouldn’t want to leave my high school community for anything!” -Heidi B.

“The secondary school setting is something special! The kids sometimes call me "mom" because they know I'm available for them for whatever they need! If they get hurt, need a band aid, need some advice, or need to vent, I'm there for them! I love watching them return to play the games they love so much. They make my job so enjoyable!” -Amanda H.

“I absolutely love being an AT! Helping others return to the sport or the activities they love is very fulfilling. It's sometimes a journey to get there, but I love being able to support those along the way.” -Liz E.

“I love being an athletic trainer because you get a chance to teach the athletes what it takes to bring the best out of themselves. I love encouraging them, especially after they've gotten injured. I have always been able to make them better than they were even before their injury. I just love my job.” -Gary C.

“I love being an AT because it allows me to build relationships and be in an athlete’s corner when they may feel like they have no one. Being an advocate for student athlete mental health is one of the most rewarding and crucial things about my job.” -Alec P.

“I love being able to be there for every aspect of my athlete’s needs- the mental, physical, and emotional needs that the athlete has in every stage of his/her/their career is so important to me! I love being on the sidelines and seeing my athletes through every stage of their career, as well as their wins, losses, injuries, and comebacks. I love what I do and have been doing it for the past 23 years!” -Mary H.

“My favorite part is being a preceptor. Being able to show my passion for this profession to aspiring ATs, so they go out and make a difference in hundreds or thousands of athletes' lives, is something that I couldn't go without. Even if we don’t get a 7-figure salary, our profession has so much to offer, and it puts a smile on my face to see each new generation coming through.” -Steve B.

At School Health, we know an athletic trainer faces new challenges and lessons daily. Thank you for always being there for your athletes and working tirelessly to ensure they’re prepared for every game and practice, all while inspiring them along the way.

National Athletic Training Month 2023: ATs are Immediate Responders

As National Athletic Training Month 2023 comes to an end, we want to thank Athletic Trainers for caring for their athletes and keeping them game ready throughout the season. Athletic Trainers are immediate responders, and they are often the first on the field when an athlete falls. 

Throughout March, we asked athletic trainers across the country to share stories about how they stayed prepared for game day, assisted their athletes through injury and recovery, helped them get back in the game, and more.

Below are just some of their answers!

Have you responded to an athletic emergency? Share your story. 

This summer, while I was working a track meet, I had a runner go into heat exhaustion, which triggered an epileptic seizure. I got him covered and cooled as best we could until he was out of the seizure, and then we were able to get fluids in him. He was fine. - La'Tamera F.

Had an athlete collapse and go into cardiac arrest after warmups. Performed CPR and got him quick medical care. He’s doing amazing now! – April Gonzalez

I have responded to multiple emergencies while employed as an AT. One being a female wrestler fractured humerus. She thanked me the next year while participating in the same contest! – Tanner K.

Share a story about how you helped an athlete recover after an injury. 

In 2020 I had a female athlete who tore her ACL tumbling. She had surgery right before the pandemic hit. Because of COVID, PT clinics were closed the first few months, and by the time she was able to go to PT, she was behind in her strength and ROM. I spent the 2020-2021 year working with her in improving her strength and ROM and getting her back to play just in time for track season. – Chelsea H.

I work at a high school, and I have rehabbed an athlete after they tore two of the three ligaments in their ankle. It seemed like it wouldn't get better, but after three months of working together the athlete was back playing basketball and competing in track. – Mercedes Tiger Athletic Training

One of my favorites was a track athlete who came in the Monday before State and could barely lift their arm above their head. Shoulder was just killing them. It appeared to be a muscle strain. JV coach was freaking out as this kid was favored to win State and was a multi-event individual. We came up with a plan and talked sense into both of them. All week, the athlete did exactly what was asked of them, and we followed the plan. They won State in more than one event – new State meet record included – and team State champs. Amazing weekend and a round of high-fives for helping to get that shoulder back to fighting form. – Kelsey D. 

Athletic Trainers are healthcare heroes because…

We usually are the initial responder to injury and involved in every step in a safe return to play. – Beau K. 

My husband (the AT in the house) said, “Because we make a difference in people’s lives.” – Wendy H. 

“We are the first person the athletes see in the morning and the last person they see when they leave. We are here for the tiniest of scratches to the ACL tear and everything in between. All this and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” – Nic T.

“…Because we treat everyone and try to leave people better than we initially met them. We’re freaking awesome!” - Mikki C.

At School Health, we know that the role of the athletic trainer is always changing, and no two days are ever the same! Thank you for everything you do to help athletes of all ages – from high school to elite sports – succeed in their dreams. 

The Benefits and Needs of an Athletic Trainer

Every athlete knows that a sports season takes a major toll on your body. No matter how much an athlete tries to power through, their body can hit a wall in the dog days of a season. That wall is tough to push through, but with athletic trainers, it can seem like paper rather than steel.

Injuries are an inevitable part of a sports season. At Your Own Risk reports that 90% of student athletes sustain a sports related injury and 54% of student athletes play while injured. Getting banged up may be part of the thrill of the sport, but it is essential that every athlete is treated in the best way possible so they can continue to put their bodies on the line for their team.

Having an athletic trainer provide consistent aid for your athletes is especially beneficial when they are full-time. The University of Idaho discusses how a full-time athletic trainer can build a strong relationship with the athletes as patients. A full-time athletic trainer will be able to understand their bodies’ tendencies, which helps them understand how to treat them in the best way possible. The article also hits on more benefits of having an athletic trainer, such as being the only form of health care an underprivileged athlete may have, as well as providing risk management for a team’s everyday schedule. It is sometimes forgotten that an athletic trainer is a healthcare professional, meaning their opinions and knowledge are valid.

A properly equipped athletic trainer is also imperative to making sure athletes feel secure. School Health provides athletic trainers with all the equipment needed to keep your athletes safe and healthy all season long.

The Mueller Protégé Athletic Training Kit and Medical Bag  allows athletic trainers to be game ready on the field or court. This medical bag can be purchased stocked with 3”x 3” gauze pads, cold packs, ointments and other items that provide trainers with all the equipment they need to prepare for any mid-game injury.

In case of a more serious medical emergency, emergency response equipment is essential for an athletic trainer to save an athlete’s life. The Zoll AED Pro provides immediate care for an unresponsive athlete by providing shocks and a CPR feedback pad For more options on supplies and more, take a glance at the Sports Medicine Supply List from School Health, to make sure your athletic trainer has what they need to perform.

Along with being medically equipped, keeping athletes hydrated is another main duty for athletic trainers, especially with spring sports right around the corner. The Gatorade G Series Performance Package provides powders, bars and coolers to make sure your high school athletes are always replenished after a break from the action.

Having athletic trainers fully equipped with the proper equipment raise their confidence in providing exceptional care, build trust from their athletes, and put athletes’ parents knowing their child is in good hands, thus making them an essential part of every team and school.

The winner of our first prize was Tiffany from Grapevine High School.

Tiffany nominated Kamden saying, “Kamden has taken a small 4A school and brought new innovations to it when taking over. He was promoted to be the head athletic trainer going into a COVID year, which has been tough on all of us. As he was being promoted, they also eliminated an athletic trainer position from the school. So, he's had to navigate through being a new Head Athletic Trainer, while downsizing, in the middle of a pandemic. During this time, he has built even more trust from his community. He even managed to secure enough sponsorship to purchase a SideLinER for his school, making it only one of two schools in the area to have one. This advancement is huge because these privacy tents are becoming the gold standard of care. Ensuring his student athletes in a small rural community are receiving the same care as the student athletes in bigger schools is a win for the entire community.

The winner of our second prize was Leslie from Impact Baseball.

Leslie nominated Charlene saying, “I want to nominate a fellow colleague and friend of mine, Charlenne Medina. Charlenne has impacted the athletic training community by participating in the California Athletic Trainer's Association and in the Far West Athletic Trainer's Association and has advocated for licensure and placement of  athletic trainers 's at secondary schools. In the  athletic training community, she has worked with youth sports to collegiate athletes, while also fulfilling the roles of a preceptor in the CSULB Athletic Training program. Outside of her work as an Athletic Trainer, she also assisted and helped firefighters in the California fires last year by providing First Responder services as an EMT. after certification, she assisted in her EMT program to help other students learn new skills. She is a hard worker and has inspired many, including myself, to take our profession further. She deserves to be recognized for all she has done in her early career!”

The winner of our third prize was James from Conway High School.

James nominated Lorin saying, “My nominee is Lorin, a Retired Athletic Trainer and Athletic Director at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Lorin gave me my first job out of college and inspired me to become a volunteer leader within my state, district, and National Athletic Trainer Associations. While I only worked with Lorin for two years before leaving for another job, her activism and volunteer spirit gave me the confidence and knowledge to become a leader myself and I am forever grateful for her mentorship, influence, and continued friendship some 30 years later.”

The winner of our fourth prize was Nicole from Mountain View HS.

Nicole nominated Jessica saying, “Jessica is the most amazing athletic trainer I have ever had the experience of working with here at Mountain View High School. She helped to pilot a program that would offer physical therapy treatments to our student athletes during their study hall classes. This program decreased student absences and recovery time for students and teachers within the school building. She keeps open channels of communication between the students, parents, coaches, teachers, counselors, and the school nurse to facilitate and initiate concussion protocols so the students can return to learning and participating in activities in a timely manner. She answers her cell phone day and night to ensure that our students receive the best care in all of the nation. Jessica decided to pursue her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in the last couple of years and had to take a break from being the athletic trainer at our school.  She currently works at Northside Hospital Sports Medicine and will hopefully finish her degree from which she has had to take a break for personal reasons. Students from the school still go to her for guidance and therapy as we no longer have the programs that she instituted during her presence.”

The winners of our grand prize are April from Miami Southridge SHS and Linette from John A. Ferguson SHS.

April shares, “The Athletic Trainer that inspired me to pursue this profession is Mrs. Linette the head ATC at John A. Ferguson SHS. When I was in 11th grade, I did not pass my sports physical due to a heart murmur. I was not able to participate in basketball that year but remembered that the season prior I spent a lot of time in the Athletic Training Room due to injuries and [ worked on] preventing those injuries from re-occurring. So, I decided to ask her if I could become her student athletic trainer and learn from her. To my amazement she said yes! She taught me everything that I  needed and wanted to know. She taught me the importance of seeing beyond the injury and helping the person fully, since injuries can affect mental health as well. She taught me different ways of taping injuries and how to assess them at the same time. I was in the sports medicine academy in high school and won the Sports Medicine Award in both my 11th and 12th grade years. The coaches also trusted me with taking care of their student athletes in case she was not present. I graduated high school and went off to college, but she always allowed me to come back and intern for her. She helped me out when I wanted to quit school and told me that anything is possible if you keep your eye on what you want. I graduated and took my BOC test before anyone in my class and passed! She took me on as her assistant Athletic Trainer that fall. Just a couple months later there was an opening at a high school for an ATC and she helped me apply. I am now not only her prodigy, but also her friend and colleague. We learn from each other and are always there for each other. She's inspired me to become a better student, teacher, athletic trainer, and most of all, a better person. I care for my athletes’ whole well-being just like how she taught me. Every day when I come to work, I always think back on that day in 11th grade when she took me on and how it molded me to become just like her.”

We want to thank everyone who participated in our giveaway! We loved hearing your stories and appreciate all you do!