Category: Prevention

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Teacher Survives SCA Thanks to Quick Actions of Athletic Trainer and Fans

Article reposted from: Advocates for Injured Athletes
Author: Heather Clemons

It was a Friday in September at Francis Parker School and the football game was in full swing. Athletic trainer Niki Dehner heard her name being yelled from the stands and she turned to realize some of the fans were trying to get her attention near the top of the bleachers – a spectator had collapsed suddenly. Upon reaching the collapsed spectator Niki found two physicians (spectators) performing CPR on the collapsed gentleman. She ensured 9-1-1 had been called and retrieved the automated external defibrillator (AED) from the sidelines. Niki applied the AED and administered a shock, at which time the emergency medical technicians arrived and transported the gentleman to the hospital for further treatment.

Niki is happy to report the spectator, a teacher at Francis Parker School, was ultimately revived and survived sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). After missing a few weeks, he has returned to work at the high school.

For Niki, she is proud of all those who played a role in helping save this man’s life. The emergency action plan (EAP) was executed as designed and an AED was readily available when it was needed. All those involved responded effectively. Of note, the students working with Niki acted quickly and confidently to locate the AED as instructed and direct the ambulance to the stands. Having the AED available on the field and not inside the building was critical in getting to the collapsed spectator quickly, as time is of the essence when SCA is suspected. For every one minute delay in defibrillation, the survival rate of a cardiac arrest victim decreases by 7 to 10%.

Francis Parker School made a commitment to be prepared in an emergency with an emergency action plan (EAP), an athletic trainer, and an AED – it has paid off in saving the life of one of its teachers. Being prepared for an emergency is ultimately a benefit for the entire school community, not just its student athletes. Being prepared with the proper planning, staffing and equipment saves lives. Thank you to Niki and Francis Parker School for your commitment to emergency preparedness.

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Doane University Athletic Trainer Helped Save A Life

Article reposted from Doaneline
Author: Austin Plourde

A runner passing out due to exhaustion is expected.

A spectator almost dying is not.

“Toward the end of the men’s race, I heard shouts from someone to call 911, so I ran over to see what was going on. I noticed it was an elderly man in distress. I knew this man needed help,” Athletic Trainer Micaela Kelso said.

Kelso said she was joined by a Doane Alum, Jillian Peavy, who is a third year student in Physician Assistant school.

Together they helped the man out of his chair and to the ground and began to asses his vitals, looking for a pulse and good breaths.

“We didn’t find a pulse so we began CPR. I continued chest compressions while she continued to check for a pulse.” Kelso said.

A couple others from the Doane coaching staff also helped with crowd control.

Professor Chad Greene was at the event taking photos and also saw the crowd surrounding the trainers.

“All I could see was a crowd of people gathering and at one point I had to tell them to give the trainers space to do their work.” Greene said.

Greene said he was concerned that the ambulance was taking a long time to arrive at the scene.

Kelso said there were also a couple athletic training students around who helped reassure the family members that were with him that day.

“He regained consciousness and then EMS arrived and took him away. It was definitely a group effort to save this man, and it would not have been such a success without all of their help as well,” Kelso said

Senior Andrew Weils has personal experience with having Kelso there to help him in a time of need.

“I’ve met with her regarding my shoulder and when I had tendinitis in my foot. She was very knowledgeable regarding my injury and had treatments ready,” Weils said.

Weils said Kelso did a lot of hands on work with him, instead of just having a student trainer work with him alone.

Kelso said she is not one for making a big deal out of things.

“I don’t consider myself a hero. I was just doing what I’ve been educated and trained to do,” Kelso said. “It’s because of the possibility of such incidences occurring, that we have athletic trainers and other trained professionals at athletic events.”

Greene would disagree.

“Never in my life have I seen an ambulance take that long, If it weren’t for the trainers that man would be dead.” Greene said

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Michigan High school athletic trainers receive AEDs

Article reposted from Click on Detroit
Author: Sarah Mayberry, M.P.H.

A growing number of schools are purchasing automated external defibrillator, or AEDs, but that does not mean they’re always readily available for student athletes or their fans.

Kanisha Ward is responsible for the safety of more than 300 athletes as an athletic trainer for Ypsilanti Community High School.

“There’s an AED right outside our gym that I usually take for the basketball games and soccer, but our track, football field, baseball diamond, they’re all maybe a half a mile up,” Ward said.

She worries about having their AED so far away.

“Even our best sprinter, it would take him at least 5 minutes,” Ward said.

It’s also a concern for Jesse Johnson, athletic trainer for Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor.

“Cross country, when we’re out at Hudson Mills, it’s probably a five minute walk just to get to your car. They call the ambulance or the park safety people, depending on where they’re at, easily it could be a half an hour or more to get somebody there,” Johnson said.

Both trainers know that’s far too long for a student suffering a cardiac arrest.

“It’s a matter of seconds,” Ward said. “Every second that ticks off is closer to not being able to have them here on Earth with us.”

But taking the AED out of their schools is not a good solution.

“That’s always our fear that if I take one from the school and the school needs it, then they don’t have one anymore,” Johnson said.

The University of Michigan MedSport program recognized the problem and is taking steps to solve it by providing 21 AEDs for trainers at all of the schools and athletic programs they have contracts with — in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. The AEDs can travel with the trainers to practices and competitions.

“For an athletic trainer to have one at their side would be the difference between life and death,” Pat Dyer, coordinator of athletic training services at U-M MedSport, said. “I think it’s always been in the back of their mind, ‘Oh, I hope I don’t get stuck on a field where a kid goes down, and I have to run back to the school to get this.’ To have one next to you to be able to place the pads on and start the program right away will be critical to saving a life.”

The trainers said it’s not just students that could be saved, but also officials, parents, grandparents and other spectators.

“It’s definitely going to reassure us to know that we will have the tools necessary,” Johnson said. “If something like this were to come up and we needed to get an AED, that we have one. We can utilize it and hopefully save a life and not have to say, ‘Well, if we only had, then we could have done better.'”

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North Carolina Athletic Trainers Team Up to Save Referees Life

Article reposted from The Mountaineer
Author: Mikell Webb

Just 18 minutes into Wednesday night’s Tuscola at Pisgah boys soccer match at Memorial Stadium, head referee Alan Tenan collapsed on the field with an apparent heart attack.
Suddenly, bitter rivals  shifted their focus from the a match to coming together to aid Tenan.
Pisgah junior soccer player Justin Francis, who is also an Eagle Scout, rushed to Tenan’s aid and turned him from lying on his face to his back. Just seconds later, Pisgah athletic trainer Jennifer Frey, Tuscola athletic trainer Stephen Digh and three emergency medical personnel at the rivalry match rushed onto the field and took over the situation.
All focus was on the Tenan as both schools’  coaches and administrators cleared the area and  students ran to move the practice goals so the ambulance could drive onto the field.
Moments later, the Canton Fire Department also arrived on the scene.
Chest compressions (CPR) was administered with the AED to revive him.
“In the midst of a great rivalry being played out at Pisgah’s Memorial Stadium between two great high schools the soccer match was stopped as a result of an emergency situation in which the head referee, Mr. Alan Tenan, collapsed on the field,” said Tuscola Principal Travis Collins. “What I witnessed was the rapid response of the trainers from both Pisgah and Tuscola, as well as our two coaches and the players on the field.  Due to the swift and professional actions of our two high school’s trainers and personnel from the Haywood County EMS, Mr. Tenan received the appropriate medical attention and was safely transported to Mission Hospital where as of [Thursday morning] he was in stable condition and being moved into a room for follow up care.
“We are so very thankful for the cooperation and professionalism that took place [Wednesday night] in response to this life-threatening emergency and extend our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Tenan and his family as he recovers.”
Tenan was conscious prior to being transported to Mission Hospital.
Pisgah Head Coach Ralph Michael and Pisgah Assistant Athletic Director Casey Kruk postponed the match. At press time, the rescheduled date had not been determined.
“Obviously, the match was postponed,” said Kruk. “Mr. Tenan and our athletes at both schools are very fortunate to have such great athletic trainers. The EMT personnel on the scene and the trainers went to work immediately on Mr. Tenan. Because they had the right equipment and were properly trained, they saved another life.”
As the ambulance left Memorial Stadium, parents, fans, students and players held hands, made a circle at midfield and prayed for Tenan.
“We are so relieved and thankful this situation turned out the way did,” said Pisgah Principal Greg Bailey. “Both schools should be so thankful of their staff, their coaches, their kids and their community. How they responded [Wednesday night] is a positive reflection of the people who live here. It just makes you swell up with pride. We have fun with these rivalries, but in this situation, both schools stood tall because when the ambulance left the field with Mr. Tenan, everybody from both schools locked hands in the middle of the field and prayed for Mr. Tenan. I’m so thankful that he got to return to his family.”

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Waxahachie athletic trainers, physicians conduct drill together

Article reposted from DayLight
Author: Scott Dorsett

While much has changed in both rules and equipment over the past two decades to ensure player safety, there will always be injuries in high school athletics. From non-contact sports like tennis and volleyball to hard-hitting football games, the slightest slip, sudden twist or violent collision can sometimes result in serious injury.

So it was no surprise during Thursday afternoon’s football practice at Lumpkins Stadium when a Waxahachie High School football coach crumpled to the turf after colliding with a player. It was also no surprise that Waxahachie’s trainers were on the field within a matter of seconds.

While Thursday’s collision and injuries were only part of a drill, it served as a real-world training scenario that WISD head athletic trainer David ‘Doc’ Bowdoin said will make the training staff better in real-world situations where every minute counts.

WISD’s team physician, Dr. Marc Roux has been an orthopedic surgeon since 2005, echoed Doc’s sentiments and can be found on the sidelines of every WHS varsity football game.

“Probably one of the most important things we as first responders can ever respond to is a head or neck injury,” Roux said. “These are injuries you can’t revisit enough. whether you’re a young trainer or experienced trainer, drills like this help build communication skills and teamwork.”

Roux credited the leadership of veteran WISD Head Athletic Trainer Bowdoin and assistant athletic trainer Nikki Robinson in their efforts to prepare student trainers to deal with a broad range of injuries.

“Honestly, you could be a layperson, and with this type of leadership and experience, they could walk you through immobilizing someone in situations like the one here tonight,” Roux said.

Bowdoin, who is well into his second decade as head athletic trainer for WISD said experience helps his student trainers more than anything.

“I think everyone did well tonight,” Bowdoin said. “This is our second year to do this outdoors, and some of our student trainers were part of those drills last year, and you could really see that experience come out.”

Assistant trainer Nikki Robinson credited on ongoing dialog with Roux, Bowdoin, and new assistant athletic trainer Alex Vega as a key to having the proper equipment and techniques in place to make sure student athletes have the best care possible.

“We’re constantly reviewing what we want to accomplish in situations like this,” Robinson said. “We talk about having the right tools in place, make sure the coaches understand the injury and provide the necessary care that student-athlete needs until EMS arrives.”

Roux noted that these drills are certainly important, but one of the things that make this such a great team is the ongoing care and treatment the student-athlete receives after an injury.

“Day in and day out, everybody’s on board, every injury is taken seriously, and they evaluate everything thoroughly,” Roux explained. “If more advanced care or treatment is needed, we have an open line of communication, and I think that’s what makes this one of the best athletic training teams in Texas.”

Bowdoin said the level of care after an injury is critical to healing a student-athlete.

“Dr. Roux and I may talk on the phone every day,” he noted. “Marc sees every treatment that we do and knows about every injury that we post. So if a kid is hurt in practice or a game, he’ll already have that athlete’s history of injury or treatment.”

Bowdoin credited the capabilities of today’s athletic training team to longtime team physician, Dr. Dave Williams. Williams, who spent more than 30 years as team physician to WISD student athletes passed away in 2012 but left a legacy of professionalism and personal care that remains as the cornerstone for today’s trainers.

“Dr. Williams was so far ahead of his time in treating the whole person,” Bowdoin said. “His expertise was treating mind, body, and spirit, and if he were here today, I’m sure he would have a big smile on his face. We certainly didn’t have the technology back then that we have today, but his foresight and understanding outpaced anything that was available 30 years ago.”

WISD hired a third athletic trainer in newcomer Alex Vega this year. Vega specializes in corrective exercise, which leans more towards preventative techniques that help to minimize injury or recovery time.

“We look at form and how a student-athlete moves,” Vega explained. “If a student-athlete has trouble squatting, bending, stretching or running, we’ll analyze those movements and put them in the weight room to develop certain muscles or have them warm up a little longer. We see a lot of groin injuries and hip injuries. These are typically associated with an athlete not having enough flexibility.”

Vega said the culture of care student-athletes receive is like nothing she’s seen before coming to Waxahachie.

“It really is different,” Vega said. “The coaches, trainers, and doctors are all on the same page. If we don’t think an athlete is ready to return to play or if he or she needs more treatment or therapy, there are no questions asked.”

WHS head coach Jon Kitna said he wanted Thursday’s drill to be as realistic as possible.

“Coach Kitna filmed the drill, just like he does at practice or in live games,” according to Bowdoin. “We’ll take that video, review it and make any changes necessary to improve. To have a coaching staff that committed to what we do is incredible.”

Bowdoin said that ultimately, his goal is to provide the best care possible to WISD athletes. With more than 50 years of professional medical and athletic training history behind them. It’s probably a safe bet that WISD athletes are in good hands.

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Kentucky Athletic Trainer Takes Care of Head Injuries

Article reposted from WPSD Local6
Author: Amanda Roberts & Jason Tomason

Football season is here, the games are about to start and trainers say so are the injuries.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says concussions are up 200 percent among teens in the past decade. That’s one of the reasons Mercy Regional EMS hosted a seminar for trainers and first responders on removing helmets and shoulder pads from players with head injuries. Responders say it could make the difference between recovery and being bound to a wheel chair.

Paducah Tilghman High School trainer Jason Crivello says he knows his student athletes. But, he says, he never knows how they’ll need his time or attention. That’s why Crivello says he needs to know the best way to work with emergency responders if one of the players falls on the field with a head injury.

“You’re with these kids every day, and that’s the difference between athletic trainers at the school every day versus the paramedics,” Crivello says.

Mercy Regional EMS Capt. Wes Rhodes says he knows how badly a player can get hurt even with helmets and pads. If the equipment isn’t handled correctly, Rhodes says a player can walk away with worse injuries.

“When I see a bad hit on the field, the first thing that comes to my mind is being in EMS,” Rhodes says.

Every accident calls for its own protocol. Sometimes emergency responders will remove pads and helmets, other times they won’t.

Crivello says they do their best to keep their student athletes safe and healthy, but they also prepare for the worst.

Gridiron Glory coverage starts this Friday on Local 6.

 

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South Carolina Athletic Trainer Taking Care of Kids in the Heat

Article reposted from The Press and Standard
Author: Cindy Crosby

In case you haven’t noticed — it is hot! With participation in outdoor fall sports beginning, schools and coaching staffs are taking extra precautions to keep their athletes safe from heat-related issues. In recent visits to both area high schools, coaches and staff members were following strict guidelines to help ensure the safety of their players.
According to the National Weather Service, heat is a leading weather-related issue in the United States that results in fatalities or illnesses. With heat advisories popping up throughout the state, it is important to monitor the heat index, a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored together with the actual air temperature. During extremely hot and humid weather, the body’s ability to cool itself is challenged, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even a heat stroke.
Cortney Bowers, certified athletic trainer for Colleton County High School, is cranked up for football season – meaning she’s on-duty during practice to help ensure the players’ safety. According to Bowers, South Carolina does not have actual heat regulations, but most athletic trainers within the state use a work/rest/water and continuous work/water consumption guideline made available by Fort Jackson.
“The guidelines are a way for us to categorize the temperature-vs.-work ratio to gauge when we should stop practice due to temperatures,” explained Bowers. “Athletes often don’t realize the toll heat takes on their bodies until they are suffering from a heat-related condition. As temps hit the high notes, I hit the water bottles and get out the Kestrel,” said Bowers. “The Kestrel is a dry-bulb/wet-bulb globe thermometer which measures temperature, humidity and heat index. It will work standing in the middle of a football field.”
Bowers is also charged with helping keep the players hydrated during practice. “I try to keep every player as hydrated as possible throughout practice, with plenty of water on the practice field,” said Bowers. “I have 18-20 sets of water bottles, so each coach has two sets of their own in groups. I have two 20-gallon water boys that I use on opposite sides of the practice field. The linemen, who tend to be bigger, have 4-to-5 sets of bottles and a 20-gallon water boy to help keep them hydrated. Last year, we had a continuous feed water boy purchased for us, which enables me to put ice in the chest and plug it up to a water hose for a continuous flow. On standby, I have 7-8 ten-gallon coolers filled with just ice to replenish the smaller water boys as needed and keep a seven-gallon cooler with towels, ice, water and ice bags in it for emergency.”
The Cougars will go full gear on Wednesday, which means

Bowers will be going a step further in her preparation. “Once we put pads on, I will have a tent on the sidelines,” said Bowers. “I’ll keep the water under the tent and have tubs set up for emergency cold soaks or just for the guys to take a nice dip after practice. I also have the whirlpool inside that is ready to go if needed.”
According to Bowers, part of staying safe in the dangerous heat begins before athletes step on the field. “I preach to these kids to drink lots and lots and lots of water,” she said. “Although some Gatorade is acceptable, nothing beats water. Gatorade, which is heavy in sugar, can actually cause cramping. So, I always tell players if they drink Gatorade, fill the empty bottle back up with water. It is also very important to eat in the mornings before practice — whether it’s eggs and bacon or a peanut butter sandwich, it gives them the necessary energy for practice and helps reduce overheating. Dressing in loose fitting, comfortable clothing or heat gear, is another component to staying cool.”
The State of South Carolina has mandated that all coaches take an annual test through the National Federation of State High Schools on heat illness prevention, concussions and sudden cardiac arrest. This precaution allows coaches to know the signs and symptoms and to both stay educated and help educate.
“With coaches and athletic trainers understanding what to watch for, it means more eyes to watch for signs and symptoms, which is better for our athletes,” said Bowers.

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South Carolina Athletic Trainers Keep Kids Safe in the Heat

Article reposted from WMBF News
Author: Alexis Simmons

WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather

The summer heat can create some dangerous conditions for high school football teams getting ready for the season.

This week marked the first day of practice for several Lowcountry teams. Athletic trainers are taking measures to keep student athletes safe as temperatures soar.

Today, the Military Magnet Academy (MMA) Football  Team practiced indoors to beat the heat. The basketball court is not the typical football floor, but for today it was the next best thing.

Robbe Hedstrom is the head athletic trainer at MMA, he is a certified trainer with Roper St. Francis.

“So today, the temperature that I took on the field was around 103 degrees with roughly 30 percent humidity and that put us just above the threshold for practicing outside,” Hedstrom said.

He says their considering moving practice to a later time when it’ll be cooler outside.He follows the National Athletic Trainer Association Guidelines that tell you how hot is too hot. That’s why they’re inside today.

“It’s a sliding scale. even at lower temperature if you have a high humidity that can dictate you to come inside or lessen practice time,”  he said.

Laura Richins is the Head Athletic Trainer at Porter Gaud.

“[That] is why we have practices so early and  so late in the day to try to avoid that,” Richins said.

The athletic trainers at Porter Gaud use the same device, a wet bulb, to determine the conditions.

No matter where practice takes place hydration and a good diet are essential.

“I like to tell kids six to eight glasses of water a day 15 to 20 ounces, roughly about two sports drinks as well,” Hedstrom said.

“We have the ice tub so if anyone is getting overheated, or if there is any risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke we can get them right in that ice bath,” Richins said.

Senior at MMA Brandon Brown knows the rewards of good habits.

“It’s really a good thing to keep yourself hydrated even in the off season so that your body just jumps back in,” Brown said.

“We try to tell the kids how to eat healthy how to drink healthy,” Hedstrom said. “Not only during practice, but when they’re away from school while they’re at home.”

Both athletic trainers measure their athlete’s hydration each practice. They weigh the players before and after practice, if they’re losing too much weight it’s a sign that they’re dehydrated. From there they’re advised to drink more water or sit out of practice.

According to the U.S News and World Report, between 1980 and 2015 there were 44 heat stroke-related deaths during preseason high school football practices.

The latest one happened Thursday when a 12-year-old in Georgia died several weeks after suffering from a heat stroke in practice.

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Indianapolis Athletic Trainer Protecting Against Concussions with Technology

Article reposted from IndyStar
Author: Kyle Neddenreip

http://indy.st/2a9suBx

When the Brebeuf Jesuit football team has its first contact practice on Aug. 4, it will be business as usual for athletic trainer Patrick Miller.

Except for one major difference. Miller will carry a device with him – about the size and shape of a cell phone – that will alert him when any of the players on the field suffers a significant hit to the head. The hit, or series of hits that may put an individual player in jeopardy of a head injury, will be timestamped with the player’s name and number on Miller’s hand-held device.

“On practice days, there are 80 or 90 kids on every corner of the field,” Miller said. “I can’t see everything. I’m going to miss stuff. So that’s really the most critical piece of having this.”

Or as Brebeuf athletic director Ted Hampton said, “There’s an ‘eye’ on the kids at all times.” That’s the idea, anyway. For the first time, Brebeuf has outfitted all of its players with the Riddell InSite Impact Response system. Each helmet is fitted with a five-zone sensor pad inside the liner that measures the severity of impact on hits to the helmet. When an impact or series of impacts exceeds a pre-determined threshold, Miller – or any trainer at a school using the system – receives an alert.

The system is not designed as a “concussion-prevention” device. But the technology could prove valuable in a sport that has faced increased concerns in recent years over the long-term effects of head injuries on all levels. A spokesperson for Riddell said Brebeuf is one of 619 programs at the youth, high school or college level as of Friday that are using the InSite system, which was first utilized during the 2013 season at a handful of schools.

It’s not a perfect science. One in-state college trainer said her InSite device alerted her five times in one game to an individual player sustaining a potential dangerous hit, though the player didn’t show any concussion symptoms in testing. The opposite has also been true. The system is expensive, a potential deterrent for already cash-strapped high school programs. InSite costs $150 per player and $200 for the alert monitor (in addition to the cost of the helmets).

Can technological advances like InSite propel the sport into a safer era? More data is needed. But trainers and coaches who have used the system believe it is a step in the right direction.

“It’s awesome for concussion awareness,” said Dr. Todd Arnold, a physician at St. Vincent Sports Performance with an extensive background in treating concussions and the team trainer for Carmel’s football program. “The more people talking about it, the better for the kids who play collision sports. There was a time when it was a taboo subject and nobody wanted anything to do with it.”

Erin Foresman is at the forefront among those who have used the InSite system on a day-to-day basis. Foresman is the head athletic trainer for the Division III Manchester University football program, which has used InSite since 2014 at the urging of former coach Shannon Griffith, who is now in a fundraising role at the school.

Foresman has utilized InSite to communicate information she might have otherwise missed. Last season, one Manchester player was consistently involved in hits that dinged Foresman’s hand-held device.

“We looked back at the way he was tackling on game film,” Foresman said. “We were able to fix the problem. In that sense, we were able to use it as a teaching tool.”

Like Miller, Foresman said the system gives her another set of eyes on the practice field. Players can’t just “shake off” a hit that exceeds the threshold or hope that it goes unnoticed. If Foresman is alerted by the device, she automatically puts the player through a sideline assessment.

But it’s not foolproof, either. Foresman said it’s become obvious in two years using the system that the hits are harder – or there can be more of them – on game day than in practice.

“That’s one thing I have trouble with,” Foresman said. “In games, they go a little bit harder. I had one player where the alert went off five times in a game, but he didn’t have any concussion systems when I tested him. That part makes it a little tough.”

Riddell outfits each sensor with a threshold based on the position of the player. For example, the impact of a hit to an offensive lineman’s helmet may not match that of a wide receiver. The thresholds are based on information the company has gathered since 2003.

Foresman has begun her own research to track how many times the alert system is dinged by position. The reality, Arnold said, is that each individual has their own threshold when it comes to sustaining a concussion.

“Until you know what someone’s individual threshold is, it’s not a tool you want to depend on completely,” he said. “But it is so much better than nothing.”

Riddell doesn’t promote InSite as a concussion-prevention system but as a tool to help trainers and coaches recognize issues before they mushroom. Players at Virginia Tech have been outfitted with sensors since 2003 (called the Head Impact Telemetry System), which is information Riddell has used in developing InSite. Arkansas, Iowa and Wisconsin are among the major college programs that have implemented InSite.

“We’re legitimately trying to protect the future of football,” said Hampton, the Brebeuf athletic director. “The approach today is much different than it was a few years ago. We’re smarter. Now we’re always looking for more we can do.”

Brebeuf isn’t the only program using InSite. Pendleton Heights has 38 helmets outfitted with the Riddell system, beginning last year under former coach and athletic director John Broughton and continuing this season under first-year coach Jed Richman.

“It’s good for a lot of reasons,” Richman said. “It’s good for the sport and good for parents. It’s another safety net.”

Elkhart Memorial and Huntington North are other Indiana high school programs that are at least partially outfitted with InSite, Riddell sales representative Erich Kennerk said. Other college programs now involved are Anderson and Butler.

If InSite proves a success, it could go a long way to alleviating concerns from parents. Kristin Roberts’ son, Jack, sustained a concussion in middle school before playing in high school at Brebeuf. Her younger son, Will, is now a senior defensive end at Brebeuf.

“When Jack got a concussion, it was a little overwhelming,” she said. “It was scary. But I feel reassured if this technology does what they say it will. Kids aren’t going to go to the trainer on their own. But I think this is a great step. I’m excited.”

Roberts admits that if her sons were 10 years younger, she might have a difficult time allowing them to play football. She’s not alone. Former players from Mike Ditka to Troy Aikman to Terry Bradshaw – and others – have said they’d have a difficult time allowing their sons to play football with their current knowledge of head injuries.

In March, the National Football League publicly acknowledged the connection between head trauma caused in the sport and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) for the first time.

But some inside the sport believe the “sky is falling” narrative is far from accurate. While youth participation numbers had been tracking down since 2010, USA Football reported 1.9 percent increase for ages 6-14 from 2014 to 2015. High school football participation nationally was down 2.5 percent from 2008 to 2015, but other factors (sport specialization) could also factor into those numbers.

“The game has been attacked for a while,” Brebeuf coach Mic Roessler said. “I hope what we’re doing helps. We need to protect this game. The barbaric coaching style of years ago has been brushed aside. We’re smarter and wiser. We’re not jeopardizing the safety of kids. That should give parents a sense of security. This game to me is the best life lesson a kid can have. For a kid not to play for fear of something happening is awful.”

In 2014, Indiana became the first state to require concussion awareness training for youth and high school coaches. At its May meeting, the Indiana High School Athletic Association approved a proposal from the Indiana Football Coaches Association that restricts contact drills. After the first week of games, teams may participate in a maximum of two practices per week involving contact equal to the “live” level.

“The best programs in the state are already adhering to those things,” Richman said. “The safety of the players comes first. That’s my job. The good thing now is that it’s common sense. It’s commonplace to put safety first. In that aspect, we’ve come a long way.”

It remains unclear if the InSite system will become the next new wave among local high school programs. The expense could prohibit some from following suit. But Roessler likes the idea of having another set of eyes on his players at all times.

“Every game means a lot to these kids,” he said. “They don’t want to miss anything and don’t think about the impact (a concussion) could cause. Hopefully this system will eliminate that. It’s really going to help us as long as we use the data and follow it. We’ll see things on the field that we normally wouldn’t.”

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New Jersey High School Includes Cardiac Testing in PPE

Article reposted from Shore News Today
Author: Brian Cunniff

Frank Zilinek completed his first full scholastic year as the certified athletic trainer at Lower Cape May Regional High School in June.

Zilinek had much more to deal with than just bumps, bruises, strains and sprains in his first year.

Five separate cardiac health incidents among the school’s student-athlete population gave him a serious initiation into his job. Although Zilinek said all five affected athletes have ended up OK, the experiences left him wondering if something could be done to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place.

Enter Wimbledon Health Partners, a Boca Raton, Fla., based company that specializes in, according to its website, on-site comprehensive cardiovascular testing to high schools, colleges and universities across the country to help minimize sudden death among young athletes. The company’s website says sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death among young athletes today.

Lower Cape May will become just the second New Jersey high school to bring Wimbledon Health Partners to its campus. Wimbledon will conduct voluntary cardiac testing for Lower Cape May Regional student athletes this Saturday, July 30, from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

“We seem to be seeing more and more sudden cardiac death in athletes, especially in recent years, across the country in all sports,” Zilinek said. “For us to have five cardiac incidents in one year, you realize how important this is and you start to think you really want to do something to prevent them.”

As of early this week, Zilinek said about 20 to 25 student-athletes had signed up to undergo cardiac testing this Saturday. The tests are open to athletes at both the high school and the Richard M. Teitelman Junior High School. Zilinek said a team from Wimbledon Health Partners, including a cardiologist, will be on hand to conduct three tests on each athlete – an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram and a vascular Doppler Ultrasound.

According to Wimbledon’s website, those tests will help the health professionals identify numerous life-threatening cardiovascular conditions, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congenital coronary artery anomalies, which make up the top two causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

Zilinek said the tests will take about 90 minutes to complete for each athlete.

“We look for ways to prevent injury and illness all the time, so this was a no-brainer to bring this company in,” said Zilinek, who coached the boys lacrosse team at Lower Cape May prior to becoming the school’s athletic trainer. “The cardiologist and the techs read the results and look for anything major right there. If they see something major, the parents are notified right away before the athlete even leaves the testing facility. If there are minor things, the medical people will send out recommendations to the parents to keep an eye on something and to follow up with their doctor and then to report back to them if they need to.”

Zilinek said there was no cost to Lower Cape May Regional to bring Wimbledon Health Partners to its campus this weekend. He said all cardiac testing is covered by insurance. He added that Wimbledon will waive fees for a student-athlete without insurance and cannot afford to pay for the test or and for those cannot afford to pay a high insurance deductible.

“We really want to get these kids tested,” Zilinek said. “The Wimbledon group has been wonderful to work with so far. With us having five incidents in a (sports) year, we certainly felt it was enough to warrant trying to do something like this.

“Our school board, our athletic committee, our administration – they were all behind this idea 100 percent,” Zilinek added. “Our coaches have been getting the word out, too, and they’re really pushing this.

“We think this is a great thing for Lower Cape May, our athletic program and our kids in general. We don’t want to see these cardiac incidents again (this) year. If this testing can prevent even one of them, then it’s definitely worth it.”