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National Athletic Trainers' Association

Boom in Athletic Trainers — 'Guardian Angels' — Reflects Sports Safety Emphasis

Excellent article by Michael Kelly of the World-Herald

"When a college basketball player suffered a horrifying compound fracture Sunday on national TV, millions winced.

Denise Fandel of Omaha was among those watching. But she wasn't focused on Kevin Ware, the Louisville Cardinal whose fracture left 6 inches of bone sticking through his skin.

“I was watching to see what the medical staff was doing,” she said, “and they did everything they were supposed to do.”

To read the full article, click here...

 

 

Concussion Experts: Athletic Trainers and Concussions

An NATA video describing the important role athletic trainers play in concussion management of athletes.

Concussion Experts: Athletic Trainers and Concussion from National Athletic Trainers' Assn on Vimeo.

March 31- Athletic Training Month Resource of the Day

Today brings a close to athletic training month and the athletic training month tips of the day.  At the ATSNJ, we are committed to sports safety so be sure to continue to visit our website as your main resource for sport safety tips and athletic training news.

If you read a tip that you found useful you can always come back to read it.  All tips for March 2013 athletic training month at http://atsnj.org/tags/tip-day

Remember to continue to promote sports safety everyday and that

"Every Body Needs an Athletic Trainer"

 

March 19 - Athletic Training Month Resource of the Day

Have you practiced your emergency action plans for a cardiac emergency recently?

You should be preapred at all time for such an emergency, as they can happen : Soccer Star Suffers Heart Attack http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/27784909-41/muamba-players-attack-bolton-chest.html.csp

To read more about sudden cardaic death emergency planning visit: http://atsnj.org/tags/cardiac

 

March 17 - Athletic Training Month Resource of the Day

 

Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation

With the recent lightning strike incident of the the four members of the Seymour High School (Indiana) girls softball team, serving as a reminder of the danger of severe weather it is important that athletic programs being conducted outside be prepared.

To learn about the dangers of lightning, undertstand lightning-safety guidelines and the proper defintions safe structures and locations, and to advocate the proper prehospital care for lightning-strike victims. Read the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation:

http://atsnj.org/documents/pdf/NATA_Position_Statement_Lightning_Safety_for_Athletics.pdf

March 5 - Athletic Training Month Resource of the Day

Prepare Guidelines For Emergency Planning and Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletics

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) ) is the leading cause of death in young athletes. To manage SCD during athletic practices and competitions, many health-related organizations have issued management guidelines.

In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, the strongest determinate of survival is the time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation. Access to defibrillation within three to five minutes is essential. Each minute lost reduces the chance of survival by approximately 10 percent. Increased training and the practicing of emergency action plans will help rescuers correctly identify sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and prevent critical delays in beginning resuscitation. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to athletes, officials, team staffs and spectators alike. It’s vital that comprehensive emergency planning, management and preparations are in place to ensure a timely and efficient response to SCA.

To see more information visit: http://atsnj.org/tags/cardiac

 

March 1 - Athletic Training Month Resource of the Day

March is National Athletic Training Month.  The 2013 theme is "Every Body Need an Athletic Trainer".

  • An estimated 1.4 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations occur annually among U.S. high school student athletes participating in practices or competitions in 2006, according to the Center for Disease Control.
  • 62% of sports related injuries occur during practices, according to Safe Kids USA
  • 75 % of all school-related spinal cord injuries occur during sports activities according to a 2007 study by the American Academy of Neurology.
  • 15% of high school sports injuries were classified as severe by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons according to a 2008 study
  • More than 5% of high school athletes are concussed each year from collision and contact sports according Journal of Athletic Training
  • 41% of concussed high school athletes returned to competition too soon according to the American Academy of Neurology

Athletic trainers are highly skilled licensed health care professionals who work under the direction of physicians and are uniquely qualified to specialize in providing health care to the physically active population.  

ATSNJ Members Provide a Helping Hand with Medfest

 

Four members of the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey recently volunteered to help out Medfest 2012 at the Special Olympics headquarters in Lawrenceville, NJ.  Directed by Jeffrey A Zlotnick MD CAQ FAAFP, past president of NJ Academy of Family Physicians, coordinates physicians and athletic trainers in an effort to provide comprehensive  physical examinations for special Olympic athletes. 

“Medfest started 8 or 9 years ago when the Special Olympics approached me and asked if we could do a physical on these athletes.  As with any population, we are looking for problems that would put that at risk for participating.  Cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal are the most common risks, and this is pretty much the same as the general population.  However, this group tends to have much more complex neurological and behavioral problems and some physical disabilities.  Our job is to document what the problems are and what limitations they may have and then let Special Olympics using their "Adaptive Sports Program" and figure out what they can participate in within those limits” remarks Zlotnick. 

Members from the ATSNJ have been helping with Medfest for the past 5 years and have been involved in the musculoskeletal screening process for over 400 Special Olympic athletes over the years.  This year’s event was extremely productive as we provided examinations for over 100 Special Olympic athletes. 

Umpire Could be at Risk of Heat Related Illness

On hot and humid day,umpires can struggle to beat the heat. Umpires should be conscious of staying hydrated and seek every opportunity to grab a little shade and a drink between innings.

 
 

On a hot and humid day, Shore Conference Umpire Paul Hooker was struggling to beat the heat.  “I felt it come on by the end of the second inning.  I tried to push through it for a couple of innings and then it just got to me”.  Hooker was removed from the game and attended to by the licensed athletic trainer when he complained of dizziness, difficulty breathing and an irregular heart rate.  

 

“Umpires probably need to be as vigilant and concerned as athletes when working a game in the heat” remarked Eric Nussbaum, President of the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey.  “Normally your body dissipates heat through sweating and evaporation but umpires often wear a heavy chest protector, dark clothing, and a hat or helmet which impedes their ability to dissipate heat”.  

 

“I’m in good shape and this has never happened to me before” stated Hooker.  I’m really glad that an athletic trainer was available and able to quickly cool me down and get me the appropriate care. I know heat illness can be bad and despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t work through it.”     

 

NATA Awards the ATSNJ The “Greatest Impact” Public Relations Award

The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) recently awarded the Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ) the “Greatest Impact” award for their efforts in promoting the profession of athletic training during the month of March, National Athletic Training Month. This national award is presented by the NATA PR Council and is the highest award given for public relations. A few highlights included an ad that ran on NJ Transit Buses that reached motorist who travel the Garden State Parkway throughout the entire month , a "Tip of the Day" placed on the website each day of the e month, a chronicle of athletic trainer's daily work during  the NY Giants Super Bowl run  and a student video contest which highlighted the value of athletic trainers..

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