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ATs and EMS, Prepare to Respond to Sports-Related Injuries

Article reposted from KSMU Ozarks Public Radio
Author: MICHELE SKALICKY

Mercy Sports Medicine athletic trainers and emergency responders gathered on the Kickapoo High School Football Field Friday to practice what to do if a middle or high school student suffers from heat exhaustion, head injuries, cardiac arrest or another ailment during a game.

Jim Raynor, administrative director of Mercy Sports Medicine, said he wants parents to know their sons or daughters are in good hands when they take part in middle school or high school sports.  He said they hold drills like this one to prepare for the worst as they hope for the best.

“We’ve been preparing all year long, and this is just our accumulation for our kick off to a hopefully injury-free year and illness-free year, but we have to be prepared,” Raynor said.

Typical injuries they see each year, according to Raynor, are sprains, strains, fractures, internal injuries and exertional heat illness.

Marty Marsh, assistant director of athletics for Springfield Public Schools, said they contract with Mercy to provide athletic trainers who work with students and coaches to try to prevent and also to respond to injuries.

According to Marsh, an underlying reason for doing that is to increase participation rates.

“We know that those kids that are involved in athletics and activities have higher grade point averages, they have higher attendance rates in school, they’re more likely to persist to graduation, they have fewer discipline problems, and they’re less likely to drop out of school,” said Marsh.

The Mercy athletic trainers as well as sports medicine students at Missouri State University are involved in all 19 sports at the high school level and nine at the middle school level in the SPS District.  Marsh said they’re looking to expand the middle school athletic trainer coverage.

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Athletic Trainers help high school athletes beat the heat

Article reposted from KSPR33
Author: KSPR33


This near triple digit heat might feel unbearable for everyone, but if you’re an athlete exercising in it, it can be downright dangerous.

In a matter of minutes, a football player collapses practicing in the scorching heat. That’s when this team comes into play.

“We have to remove the equipment including the jersey, including the helmet shoulder pads,” said trainer Melanie Noskowiak.

In what feels like more than 100 degrees out, trainers don’t have much time.

“That’s our hardest part to do especially out here,” Noskowiak.

They have less than 30 minutes get the player out of the heat.

“If it surpasses that 30 minute window then a whole cascade of organ failure takes place,” said Jim Raynor of Mercy Sports Medicine.

That’s the scenario trainers have to be ready for as players gear up for the season. It’s why the team at Mercy Sports Medicine is practicing exactly what to do when athletes overheat.

“If the core body temperature is over 104 degrees we will we will cascade our care management into rapid cooling which is emerging in ice water,” said Raynor.

But medical experts say there’s an easier way, one that could tell you if you’re at risk.

“with the heat, intensity of exercise, how well they hydrated, how well they ate, how much sleep they’ve gotten.”

He says it all plays a role in whether a player will end up like this, but trainers say..

“We’re taking care of the kid who is down,” said Noskowiak.

The practice for fall athletic seasons start on August 1.