People commonly associate athletic trainers with carrying around water, taping ankles, and handing out ice bags, which is just a tiny fraction of what we are capable of as medical professionals. The most important skill of an Athletic Trainer is being able to save lives! All Athletic Trainers are required to be CPR and AED certified, proficient in several spine boarding techniques, able to recognize signs and symptoms of heat illnesses, asthma attacks, concussion injuries, sickle cell and seizure episodes, and many more injuries and illnesses.
As I come to an end of my first semester as a certified Athletic Trainer I have learned how important all of our proficiencies, practicals, and mock scenarios have prepared me. Thankfully I have not had any life threatening injuries thus far in my young career, knock on wood, but I know that if the event were to occur I would be prepared and confident in my actions to help the athlete/patient. I still fear the possibility of having someone’s life in my hands, but I am no longer afraid to respond and act in these life threatening situations.
Check out these awesome Athletic Trainers who used their life saving skills!
http://espn.go.com/high-school/lacrosse/story/_/id/7344390/athlete-advocates-safety-field
http://www.jrn.com/ktnv/news/Local-athletic-trainer-saves-teens-life-with-AED-device-233099031.html