Over the past few weeks, as those in traditional Athletic Training settings have been grinding out the weeks of preseason, we have been inundated with stories of youth sport athlete deaths.  Sadly, these heat related deaths are PREVENTABLE! 

Many states are working to introduce acclimation periods for the beginning of preseason football practices, which are helpful, but still deaths are occurring.  The legislation can be easily interpreted by coaches and athletic directors, but they are not health care providers.  As a profession we need to use the events of this preseason to advocate that Athletic Trainers are the most qualified provider to help prevent heat related deaths.  Every high school should have an Athletic Trainer, period. Athletic Trainers are the most qualified health care provider for the advocacy of the health and safety of athletes in secondary school settings, but currently only 59% of secondary schools enlist the services of an athletic trainer.1 

The recent heat stroke and hyponatremia deaths, much like those that have come before are completely preventable through patient education and the presence of an Athletic Trainer.  No longer is it enough to train coaches to recognize and treat these injuries… That’s not their job.  Athletic Trainers possess the appropriate knowledge for prevention, recognition and management of these conditions.  In the rush of preseason we sometimes get tunnel vision and think hydration is the only preventative measure, but some of these preseason deaths have been due to hyponatremia.

            Hyponatremia, caused by over hydration, is a condition that causes the cells in the body to rapidly swell and die.  When the cells in the brain begin to swell they have nowhere to go inside the skull which leads to brain death.  This is where education becomes a major key because the message that athletes continue to hear is “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!”, but really what they need is education about proper hydration.  Hydration should be individualized based on sweat rate… and although it may be difficult for one Athletic Trainer to do this alone… if we teach our athletes how… we may save lives.

A great resource for Athletic Trainers and the public with regards to heat and hydration related conditions is the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut. http://ksi.uconn.edu/

For more information about the cases this year here are the following links:

https://www.yahoo.com/health/tragic-teen-death-atributed-to-overhydration-94642750182.html

http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/26364634/jackson-prep-football-player-dies

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-08-25/news/bs-md-ci-morgan-football-death-20140825_1_benita-meadow-marquese-meadow-heat-stroke

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2014/08/07/Burrell-High-football-player-16-died-of-heart-tumor/stories/201408070355

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2014/08/13/teen-football-player-dies-camp-blanding/14015853/      

1)      http://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/SecondarySchools.pdf

           

Can you say with confidence that you know what athletic trainers actually do on a day-to-day basis?  Do you know in which aspects Athletic Trainers are trained and skilled? As an Athletic Trainer, it is common to hear phrases and sayings multiple times that, in fact, are not correct.  It is important for athletic trainers to advocate for ourselves as coaches and athletes are more commonly just misinformed.  Follow the hashtag #falsefacts throughout the day starting at 9:00AM Eastern Time with #falsefacts about athletic training.  Join the conversation by using the hashtag.  We will post a summary on the blog tomorrow. Happy posting!

Experiential Education.  That is one of the driving forces that have influenced many young Athletic Trainers to pursue a Masters Degree in Athletic Training.  Many young professionals desire to go to graduate school to become better clinicians, to learn effective methods of evidence based practice, and even to pursue a career in teaching.  For all the certified young professionals fresh with their diplomas, adjusting to life after undergrad may be a bit difficult.  

The biggest struggle I have had so far as a young professional Athletic Trainer is the ability to balance being a mentor for undergraduate students, but also wanting to continue to learn to better myself as a clinician.  Many times throughout the preseason of this year at Indiana State University I have had the chance to work with many athletes who experienced various injuries.  These experiences are definitely rewarding.  Being fresh out of undergrad and on my own, I want to work with every athlete and handle every case that comes up.  However, since I am at a university with a CAATE accredited professional program, there are students that also need the experience and need to be mentored, just as I was during my education.  It is difficult to let go of the reins on an evaluation and let the student take the lead.  In my head I’m screaming “No, you need this experience on your own! It will help you become a better clinician!”  But at the same time I know that instructing undergraduates will also benefit me clinically and will also benefit the teams when efficiency and numbers are needed when the athletic training room is very busy.

I have come to find that occasionally I will selfishly take on a number of patients on my own, just to test my will and ability to multitask in the athletic training room.  This is beneficial for me, but these actions can drive your students away from you and also leave them with nothing to learn.  I have deterred from these methods the past few weeks, and instead I have used a collaborative approach with my students whenever there is a moment where they can learn.  This too is also rewarding, in the fact that you see these young athletic training students grow into better clinicians and leaders in their program.

This growth normally develops after taking a class, studying, and then applying that knowledge in the athletic training room.  Well, I will be finding myself on the other side of the desk this year, not only as I balance working with students in the clinic and on the field, but also in the classroom as an anatomy lab instructor.  Now I’M the teacher, when only a few months ago I was the student.  This adjustment will probably be the most stressful, but also the most fun.  It is funny how stress and enjoyment can come together to create an amazing working environment, and I am up for the challenge.     

I am excited to see where this position at Indiana State University will take me, but I am also eager to see where the undergraduate students will go, to advocate for the profession as young professionals.  I am also beginning to see that I don’t really have to be working alone in order to have a worthwhile experience; it is truly how you gain the knowledge needed that is the most pivitol key that drives the learning process.  The Athletic Training dichotomy: you are a teacher, yet you will always be a student.  The fact that I can learn something new everyday is what makes the athletic training profession so rewarding.

Nicolás C. Merritt

Indiana State University has a rich tradition of athletic training alumni and faculty that have had a major impact on the profession. Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams is atop that list as the first ISU AT alum to become a university president. Dr. Williams recently became the 18th president of Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. Dr. Williams attributes much of his success to ISU and the legacy of the athletic training program. “I’ve gotten every single job because of ISU, the education program opened a lot of doors for me because it’s so well known.”

Dr. Williams began his education at Weber State University, under the guidance of Joel Bass. Bass, also an ISU alum, helped Williams to apply to the post-professional program where Williams earned his MS in athletic training from ISU. He then went on to earn his PhD in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State. Williams began his career in administration and academia as a program director at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was able to design his own undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs, along with a human performance center. Dr. Williams said he got involved with higher education administration because “you get to advocate for those that really don’t know how to advocate for themselves.”

When asked about the impact of his athletic training background on the success he’s had as an administrator, Dr. Williams credited many of the skills he learned in the clinical setting. Skills such as communication, problem solving, thinking outside the box, and developing a strong work ethic have played an integral role in his success as an administrator. He said, “you know how to deal with conflict, handle stress, multi-task, and communicate with people on several different levels.”

While Dr. Williams enjoys his role as an administrator he said he misses the interactions with athletes and students. One of his favorite things was teaching introductory classes where students knew nothing, and then teaching senior classes to see how they progressed in knowledge “from a ‘nothing’ to a close to competent professional that is almost ready to go out in the field and use their clinical proficiencies that you taught them.”

Congratulations to Dr. Williams, we wish you the best of luck at Dixie State! Go Trees!!

Jessica Edler MS, LAT, ATC