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Friday, October 10, 2014

SWATA Young Professionals Committee: Annie's Advice



SWATA Young Professionals 

One group of young professionals that we like to give advice to are the recently graduated, and recently certified/licensed athletic trainers. We all remember our first year on the job, and the challenges we faced. I quickly learned that everything I learned in the classroom, was just a foundation for what was going to be thrown at me. Having a mentor with some tips to help along the way is a saving grace for many fresh athletic trainers. Below I have complied a list of “tips and tricks” to help the new athletic trainer get through the first few years in the profession.
-Get or Stay close to a mentor from the HS setting
-Know and learn your limitations
-Utilize fellow ATCs
-Be confident in your abilities
-Communicate with your team physician
-Evaluate the whole athlete, not just the suspected injury
-Don't be afraid to refer when necessary
-Work to educate your student athletes and others
-Be honest and straightforward with your athletes, parents, and coaches
-Don't be afraid to say NO
-Take time to have some fun
-Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Take everything one-step at a time
-Listen to the Kids
-Get to know the janitors and secretaries
-Set up reasonable protocols
-Introduce yourself to the other team's ATC
-Don't be afraid to a risk
-Listen to those that have more experience than you, but also your students
-You're not going to get everything right 100% of the time. Failing is a part of it. 
-Try not to take work home with you
-Don't be afraid to ask for help
-Talk to the kids like they are adults
-Get to know your AD


Good luck on your career as an athletic trainer! Take it one day at a time, lean on others for advice and assistance, and most importantly, Have FUN! Welcome to the best profession out there. 
                                                                                  
                                                                                              Written By: Annie Nalepa


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Preventing Sudden Death and Improving Sports Safety Nationwide with the Korey Stringer Institute


It is mid-September, the middle of fall sport seasons, the thick of the fall academic semester, and a reminder that athletic trainers need to be at the top of our game on a daily basis. We are the first and main line of defense for our patients. We are the medical leaders in preventing, recognizing and treating exertional heat stroke. Further, we are responsible for preventing, recognizing and treating every potential condition that can lead to sudden death in sport. It remains important that we stay up to date on the latest recommendations for the management of these conditions despite our limited time and grueling schedules. One of the best ways to keep up to date is to utilize resources available to you.

There are many organizations focused on sports safety from youth to the professional level. One of the leading, and most trustworthy, organizations for this movement is the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI), based at the University of Connecticut and headed by an athletic trainer, Dr. Douglas Casa. The KSI partners with NATA, among others, to advocate for athletic training coverage for all organized sport. Beyond the staff working at their headquarters, KSI has a medical and science advisory board, composed of scientists and medical professionals who are experts in sudden death conditions. KSI is a valuable resource in education for athletic trainers, doctors, parents, coaches and athletes, emergency action plan review, among other things that can benefit every clinical athletic trainer.

Here is an example of a few recent projects that the KSI has been up to:

-TED-Ed 
TED-Ed animation on exertional heat stroke directed by Dr. Douglas Casa was released. (COOL FIRST, TRANSPORT SECOND!) http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-happens-when-you-get-heat-stroke-douglas-j-casa

-National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research
A consortium was formed between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Korey Stringer Institute (University of Connecticut), and the University of Washington to investigate catastrophic injuries reported in organized sports of all levels (collegiate, high school, and youth). The goal is to create a national database on sports-related catastrophic injuries and to improve prevention and care for these injuries. 

-CATCH-ON
Korey Stringer Institute called every public and private high school in the United States to investigate the availability of athletic trainers and the extent of service provided by them. The final data on public high school investigation will be published in the Journal of Athletic Training soon. 

A recent initiative KSI is promoting:
-Heat Safety Pledge: Mission Athletecare
Mission (a company that makes athletic gear) is investing 1 million dollars to promote exertional heat stroke prevention and a safer sport environment in youth sports. High schools that follow KSI's six pillars of heat safety (which can be found here: http://blogmac.missionathletecare.com/heatsafetypledge) will be outfitted with $1,000 in Mission cooling gear.

Upcoming presentations will be given by KSI staff and advisory board members in Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama to sports medicine advisory committees and State Athletic Trainers' Associations. We will have an exhibit at the Stamford Hospital Heath Wellness & Sports Expo (http://www.hws-expos.com/expo-home.php?expo=stamford-2014). Other scientific lectures will be provided to
Rocky Mountain University graduate students and at a medical meeting in conjunction with the Marine Corps Marathon.

KSI has an upcoming board meeting, where we will be expecting personnel from all of our corporate and education partners including the NFL, Gatorade, CamelBak, Kestrel, Mission, One Beat CPR, NATA, USA Football, Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Again, every athletic trainer needs to be practicing according to the latest evidence-based recommendations and doing the best we can in preventing sudden death. Not anyone has all of the answers, so don’t hesitate to utilize your resources that are meant to help you out!

Feel free to contact me at brendonm@uark.edu if you need anything, or head to http://www.ksi.uconn.edu for available resources and contact information for others within KSI.

Brendon McDermott, PhD, ATC
University of Arkansas