MEMBERSHIP NEWS

          

                                  BLUE/GOLD FOOTBALL ATC SELECTION COMMITTEE

The DATA Blue/Gold Football ATC Selection Committee is proud to announce the ATC for the 2002 Blue/Gold All Star Football Game.  For the Blue: Vince Ranalli, ATC of William Penn High School and PRO Physical Therapy.  For the Gold: Amy Blansfield, ATC of Caesar Rodney High School and Smith and Brown Physical Therapy.  These individuals will serve as the Head ATC.  Volunteers are still need.  Remember you must work at least two practices to work the sidelines during the game.

PUBLIC RELATIONS LETTER

The Secondary School Committee of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) has developed a letter to be sent to local Family Practice and Pediatricians.  DATA members working in the secondary school setting should send this letter to these types of physicians in their area.  This will serve the duel purpose of introducing yourself as the ATC for these students, and increase awareness of our profession.  A copy of the letter is available to all DATA members at the Members Only News Link. click here.

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAM

The National Athletic Trainers Association Secondary School Athletic Trainers Committee has developed the following checklist to identify critical aspects needed to provide a safe environment within an athletic program.  The Delaware Athletic Trainers Association supports these guidelines.  If you need more information then is listed contact the NATA at 1-800-TRY-NATA (1-800-879-6282) or the DATA at data-mmz@att.net.

SAFETY CHECKLIST:

SAFETY ITEMS PARENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAM

Emergency Plan

Emergency plans include a pre-established, well thought out plan of action that is implemented in the event of an emergency situation.  Items should include, but are not limited to:

  1. Who will provide emergency first aid?

  2. Who and how will Emergency Medical Services (EMS) be Summoned?

  3. Who will monitor non-injured members of the team during the emergency?

  4. How will parents be notified in the event of an emergency?

  5. Does the school monitor the availability of medically prescribed personal emergency medication?

  6. Is there adequate communication system in place at all athletic practices and contests?

  7. Is documentation with emergency phone numbers and a list of student's medical conditions readily available at all practices and games?

Full Time on Site Qualified NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer?

There should be a qualified allied health care provider available to student athletes at the school on a daily basis.  A qualified health care provider is educated in the prevention, immediate care, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.  The IDEAL choice would be a State of Delaware Licensed, NATA Certified Athletic Trainer.  The American Medical Association (AMA) passed a resolution in July of 1998 (AMA Resolution 431, A-97), which supports this recommendation.

Team Physician/Consulting Physician

There should be a medical physician affiliated with school who is well versed in sports medicine.  The athletic health care provider in the school should establish communication with the team physician.

Pre-participation Physical Evaluation for All Athletes Annually

A qualified medical physician should perform an annual physical evaluation prior to athletic participation.  This document should be reviewed by the school based athletic health care provider, who would bring to the attention of the coaching staff, any students participating with a medical alert (such as asthma, diabetes, etc.).  Guidelines should be  established for athletes with medical alerts to ensure that emergency life sustaining medications such as bronchial inhalers for asthma and Epi-Pen for anaphylaxis, are readily available and administrated properly when needed.  Any genetic cardiac risk factors should be identified and reviewed by a medical physician prior to participation.

Coaches Education

The coaching staff should be required to participate in ongoing education in coaching techniques, CPR, and first aid.

"Return to Participation Following Injury" Protocol

The person responsible, with a school system, for making the decision to return an injured athlete back to sports participation needs to be addressed.  A protocol needs to be established with the qualified athletic health care provider identified as an integral part of the decision making process.  Communication between the athlete, coach, parent, team physician, family physician, certified athletic trainer and others regarding the status of the athlete's injury.

Field/Facility Maintenance Plan

There should be a mechanism in place to ensure facilities and fields are properly cared for, inspected on a regular schedule and repaired in a timely manner.

Athletic Equipment

The equipment the school provides should be safe, properly fitted, in good repair, and inspected on a regular schedule.  All equipment inspections, repairs, and reconditioning should be documented.  Equipment that is damaged, in ill repair or dangerous should be discarded or secured out of harms way.

Conditioning Programs

Provisions of supervised pre-season, in-season, and out-of season conditioning programs should be available to ALL student athletes.  A person who is educated in conditioning of the adolescent should design and monitor these programs utilizing up-to date, scientifically sound advice.

Reprinted with Permission.  Copyright 1999 National Athletic Trainers Association, Secondary School Committee.