With the start of the new school year, the athletic season is right around the corner.
Injuries will be a part of the game and some can be serious.
To help prepare for the upcoming season, Dignity Health has teamed up with Gilbert Public Schools to help prepare teams for the fall season.
Campo Verde High School played host to pre-season training for high school athletic trainers.
“The key part of our job is to be ready and know exactly what to do when stuff goes wrong or an athlete gets injured,” said Suzie Squires, Dignity Health Athletic Trainer who works with Campo Verde and Mesquite High Schools.
Athletic trainers, coaches and members of Gilbert Fire and Rescue work as a team to handle possible spinal injuries.
Practicing log rolling maneuvers where volunteers acting as injured players are rolled onto backboards, slow and steady.
“Often the coaches especially the athletic trainers are the front line of these injuries,” said Dr. Matthew Hansen, Orthopedic Sports Medicine Specialist with Mercy Gilbert Hospital. “They’re the ones on the field and at the gym when the injuries occur and that’s often the times when you can make the biggest difference, if the athlete gets the most appropriate cervical spine care.”
If a student athlete suffers a spinal injury, the care becomes methodical, it starts with the coaches and trainers who hand off care to the EMS personnel and then to the ER.
Each step is vital to helping the inured athlete.
“Everything we do builds prior to us getting there. The better job the athletic trainers do and they do a great job, We can just transfer it to the next level of care at each step,” said Bob Badgett. Battalion Chief with the Town of Gilbert Fire and Rescue.
Even the athletic student training aides got some tips.
During the season, they will be expected to provide support to the pros.
“They’re actually extra eyes for the athletic trainers to have on hand. They are able to recognize injuries, retrieve equipment and be communication liaisons in any kind of situation,” said Squires.
From the teams to the top trainers, it’s a team exercise that’s a win for everyone involved.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.12news.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/08/09/gilbert-high-school-athletic-trainers-ready–high-school-sports/31360991/