Tag: Dallas ISD

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Athletic trainers are first line of defense in heat-related illness for athletes

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As Dallas ISD football programs welcome their student-athletes back onto the field, the district’s coaches and athletic training staff are working together to ensure student-athlete safety is a priority during the often  soaring summer temperatures.

Heat illness is the leading cause of preventable illness in high school athletics. And high-intensity outdoor sports during the summer months poses the greatest risk for these heat-related issues.

The Dallas ISD Athletics department has placed licensed athletic trainers (LAT) at each of the district’s comprehensive high schools to monitor the health and safety of the district’s estimated 10,000 student-athletes. A $3 million proposal approved by the district’s Board of Trustees in 2013 funded the athletic trainers.

The LATs have the ability to add water breaks at practices, call off practices due to extreme conditions, or recommend lighter practice gear during a workout session. In addition, the University Interscholastic League and the National Federation of State High School Associations have disallowed practices to take place between noon and 6 p.m. during the first two weeks of the high school football training season.

In addition, LATs and coaches are educated on signs and symptoms of heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

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Dallas ISD Making Athletic Trainers a Priority

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Did you know that it’s a Dallas ISD priority to have a full-time, on-campus athletic trainer at each high school campus?

It’s true! Dallas ISD is among only 37 percent of public school districts in the nation that put such a high priority on athletic trainers. March is National Athletic Training Month, so it’s a great time to recognize the athletic trainers who protect and care for Dallas ISD student-athletes. This year’s slogan for the month is “Your protection is our priority.”

Ryan Peña, Sports Medicine Manager at Dallas ISD, has seen the benefits that come from an athletic trainer providing one-on-one availability to student-athletes.

“Managing injuries at school, rather than sending the patient to the emergency department, saves money and time loss,” Peña said. “Our trainers get the student-athletes back to activity safely.”

Whether at practice or at a game, athletic trainers have a wide range of responsibilities. From healing a sprained ankle to providing immediate emergency care in serious injury situations, athletic trainers are tasked with focusing on the health of student athletes. Being on campus every day allows athletic trainers to build relationships with their student-athletes and succeed in providing the necessary continuous care.

Just as professional and college athletes do, Dallas ISD student athletes have access to athletic-trainers that are motivated to care for and protect them.