Sheyenne High School athletic trainers Shannon Olson and Rebecca Erickson do a lot to ensure the safety and health of the school’s hundreds of athletes.
The two certified Sanford Health athletic trainers were a big reason the school recently received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School award by meeting several of the criteria for the award, including creating a positive athletic health care administrative system,
promoting safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities, providing or facilitating injury intervention, and creating and rehearsing a venue-specific emergency action plan.
Olson said they are proud of the award because it will shed light on what they do on a daily basis.
“I think it really helps to get the word out about our profession, so that people understand exactly what a certified athletic trainer is,” said Olson, who has worked at Sheyenne for nine years.
Among their daily tasks, the most important part of an athletic trainer’s job is keeping the school’s athletes healthy and knowing how to treat injuries that may occur in practice or during a game.
Some of the most common injuries are sprains and concussions.
“Part of the [reason for the] award, too, is that we have established protocols to deal with a concussion,” Olson said, “and also that we have available information for parents and athletes and coaches and anybody who needs it.”
She said the awareness of concussions and the effects their effects is becoming more well-known.
Olson and Erickson are responsible for evaluating students who have suffered a concussion and making sure they are completely recovered before they get back on the playing field.
The one-on-one relationships with students are also an important aspect for the trainers.
“It’s vitally important the rapport with the students,” Olson said. “That way, you know what is normal for them, and that way if there is an injury you can tell right away, that’s abnormal.”
Erickson joined Olson at Sheyenne at the beginning of this school year.
“Seeing the athlete return to play and also being really thankful … that’s super rewarding to see them really appreciate what you do,” Erickson said.
While the trainers’ work is important, the award also recognizes the efforts of others at the school including counselors, nurses and administrators who help the school achieve the high standards to be considered a “Safe Sports School.”
CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL ARTICLE