WHAT IS A CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER?
Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are medical experts in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life. If you're injured, they can get you on the mend and keep you on the move. As part of a complete health care team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals, athletic administrators, coaches and parents. The ATC gets to know each athlete individually and can treat injuries more effectively. The athletic trainer at CHS is Christina Mancuso - mancuso.christina@gmail.com
NEWS
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has assembled a Football and Wellness Committee to further promote best practices for America's youth and amateur football community. To learn more, go to:
http://www.usafootball.com/articles/displayArticle/7269/9067
CONCUSSION
Howard County Consent for Sports Concussion Program Testing & Release of Information:
http://www.hcpss.org/athletics/form_sportsconcussiontestingrev0510.pdf
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control concussion information
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/CGToolKit/A_Fact_Sheet_For_Parents.htm
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury. Concussions are caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. They can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Even a “ding” or a bump on the head can be serious.
Howard County Public School System Concussion Information
http://www.hcpss.org/athletics/form_concusinfosht0510.pdf
What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?
You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or can take days or weeks to appear. If your teen reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away.
SIGNS OBSERVED BY COACHING STAFF
-appears dazed or stunned
-is confused about assignment
-forgets plays
-is unsure of game, score, or opponent
-moves clumsily
-answers questions slowly
-loses consciousness
-shows behavior or personality changes
-can’t recall events prior to hit
SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE
-headache
-nausea
-balance problems or dizziness
-double or fuzzy vision
-sensitivity to light or noise
-feeling sluggish
-feeling foggy or groggy
-concentration or memory problems
-confusion
What should you do if you think your teenage athlete has a concussion?
1. Seek medical attention right away. A health care professional will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your teen to return to sports.
2. Keep your teen out of play. Concussions take time to heal. Don’t let your teen return to play until a health care professional says it’s OK. Athletes who return to play too soon—while the brain is still healing—risk a greater chance of having a second concussion. Second or later concussions can be very serious. They can cause permanent brain damage, affecting your teen for a lifetime.
3. Tell all of your teen’s coaches about any recent concussion. Coaches should know if your teen had a recent concussion in ANY sport. Your teen’s coaches may not know about a concussion your teen received in another sport or activity unless you tell them. Knowing about the concussion will allow the coach to keep your teen from activities that could result in another concussion.
4. Remind your teen: It’s better to miss one game than the whole season.
It’s better to miss one game than the whole season.
SPORTS NUTRITION
Eating is just as much a part of training as lifting, running and learning plays. Whether you're a quarterback or a lineman, you need to fuel adequately to train well, recover quickly and increase endurance.
Athletes who want a winning edge need the right nutrition. When you drink enough water and eat a balanced diet, your body can make energy efficiently and fuel top performance.
You can make the most of your athletic talents and gain more strength, power, and endurance when you train. Base your diet on a variety of factors, including your age, size, physical condition, and the type of exercise you are doing. See your doctor for individualized nutrition advice.
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00370
The following article from Brown University is a good resource for sports nutrition information:
http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/nutrition/sportsnut.htm
GOT MILK? See the BFS page for information about chocolate milk nutrition!
HEAT ILLNESS
Heat exhaustion: This condition often occurs when people exercise (work or play) in a hot, humid place and body fluids are lost through sweating, causing the body to overheat. The person's temperature may be elevated, but not above 104°F.
Heat stroke: This medical condition is life-threatening. The person's cooling system, which is controlled by the brain, stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point where brain damage or damage to other internal organs may result (temperature may reach 105+°F).
To read more about heat illness, go to: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/heat_exhaustion_and_heat_stroke/article_em.htm
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association statement on Youth Football and Heat Related Illness is found at:
http://www.nata.org/statements/official/youth_football.pdf
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.
The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.
The Official Statement from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association is found at:
