TEMPLE, Texas — With the high school football season being right around the corner, athletic trainers came together last week to hone in on their skills and get a refresher on the best practices to keep our athletes safe on the field.
Trainers, physicians, and medical residents participated in a sideline training course at Baylor Scott & White in Temple. They discussed topics including concussion management, correct practices during an emergency, and treatment of basic injuries.
"It's really awesome that Baylor Scott &White puts this sideline course for us," said Windee Skrabanek, Temple High School athletic trainer. "It helps promote our profession, but also keeps us all informed and able to work together so we can be prepared for our upcoming athletic season."
"We're getting high schoolers to feel comfortable taking care of athletes," said Gregory Sprowls, Baylor Scott & White orthopedic surgeon. "Then, at the level of athletic trainers making sure that they feel that they have support from the medical doctor side; and on the resident side, we have them helping cover teams as well."
Courses such as this one are necessary, since concussions remain a main concern for parents and coaches every time players step on the field.
"It really starts with good tackling form," said Sprowls. "Then it comes down to identifying those injuries, screening them before the season so that we know what their baseline level is, and then making sure they're back to that baseline before we send them back out to avoid a second injury."
During the course, young professionals practiced spine boarding and handling other injury situations. Meanwhile, experienced trainers revisited skills, allowing them to stay up to date with an ever-changing discipline.
"It's something that you've done for years, but hey, this might be a new way to do this and try things," said Skrabanek. "It's also a good way to mentor our peers so that way we're being great role models and leaders."
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