The last two months have been extremely interesting for me as an athletic trainer. This is my first year as a professional athletic trainer and I am working in the always eventful high school setting. Everyone I know has always told me that the first year is the toughest, and that you will see the craziest stuff during that year. Well, so far no one is lying. When I am working by myself it is usually eventful and never lacks a dull moment, however when the other athletic trainer is working you can hear the crickets chirp. The running joke is that if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen when I’m there…which has its pro’s and con’s. The one thing I have definitely learned is that you have to find the humor in things or you will never catch a breath.
Yes, parent phone calls can be dreadful and weekend warrior injuries can beat you down before its even 8 am on Monday morning but it is part of our job, and we have to carry out these tasks along with many others. There have been many interesting injury evaluations since the beginning of August with my personal favorite being the mysterious referred pain. The athlete comes into the athletic training room stating that he was hit in the jaw last night in the game. He then states that his jaw isn’t hurting because the pain is in his ribs… is it possible to have referred pain in the ribs from a jaw injury? I think that’s a stretch, personally, but it is funny. I also like the notes from parents excusing their son or daughter from sports when they are sore from playing fall ball all weekend or ran into a light pole in the dark. My personal favorite parent note is when an athlete was excused from athletics due to a blister on his/her foot, which I definitely found humor in. If you have ever worked on the medical crew for the 3Day or Avon breast cancer walks then you have most likely seen blisters the size of Texas, and these individuals continue the walk. Which makes perfect sense on how a blister the size of a peanut would be a reason to not participate in athletics....
My main point is to at least find something to laugh at every day. There are so many things that can upset you and cause you to have a bad day but finding the humor in things will make those hard days a little easier. When you feel like your having a bad day just think of this true little story (which happened last Friday)… An athlete comes in to get an ice bag from the ice machine following practice. She comes out and says I have a question… So do you guys have like a lot of freezers here? I was wondering because that’s a lot of ice and they are all perfectly square and cubed… So do ya’ll like use ice trays and freeze them every day and then dump all the ice in the ice machine thing? Because that’s a lot of ice in there!
I later informed her that the ice machine makes ice on its own and we don’t use mini ice trays.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Athletic Trainer vs. Club Sports
Here is my ethics issue that I would like to get some feedback on from the rest of the group...club sports. This seems to be more of an issue in secondary school settings where high school athletes are strongly encouraged to participate in club sports outside of their school. What do you do as an overworked, exhausted, often under-staffed athletic training program when day after day you are flooded with club sports injuries?
The major problem comes with kids who play a sport that is currently in season and also participate in a club sport. Let's take football players who participate in select soccer on the weekends for example. One of them comes in on Monday morning with a sprained ankle from their club game on Saturday or Sunday. This injury didn't actually happen during a school sponsored event, but if you send them away and tell them to go see a doctor and take care of it on their own, you are definitely going to hear it from that athlete's high school football coach for not getting the kid back out to practice with treatment and rehabilitation.
On the other hand, if you treat said athlete and the several other club sports injuries that will follow during the season, how do you avoid exhausting school district supplies on those kids? You are even donating school district employee time to that athlete with an outside injury.
Ethically, I have a hard time turning away any injury that walks through our athletic training room door; however, I have definitely been frustrated beyond wits end about the large amount of club sports injuries we have had to treat over the years. Does anyone else run into this problem? How do you handle these kids? As a knowledgeable professional, can you turn away an injured kid?
The major problem comes with kids who play a sport that is currently in season and also participate in a club sport. Let's take football players who participate in select soccer on the weekends for example. One of them comes in on Monday morning with a sprained ankle from their club game on Saturday or Sunday. This injury didn't actually happen during a school sponsored event, but if you send them away and tell them to go see a doctor and take care of it on their own, you are definitely going to hear it from that athlete's high school football coach for not getting the kid back out to practice with treatment and rehabilitation.
On the other hand, if you treat said athlete and the several other club sports injuries that will follow during the season, how do you avoid exhausting school district supplies on those kids? You are even donating school district employee time to that athlete with an outside injury.
Ethically, I have a hard time turning away any injury that walks through our athletic training room door; however, I have definitely been frustrated beyond wits end about the large amount of club sports injuries we have had to treat over the years. Does anyone else run into this problem? How do you handle these kids? As a knowledgeable professional, can you turn away an injured kid?
Marketing ourselves as athletic trainers
Just do it
Is it in you
Is it in you Are you ready for some football?
The headache medicine
We know these companies, their logos and their catch phrases better than we know how to promote ourselves and our profession.
We often associate marketing with the business world, but if we stop and think about the efforts of SWATA, NATA and even our own place of employment, marketing is necessary to promote relationships and build up our image. How many times have you had to explain what an athletic trainer is and does?
My good friend once told me the key to marketing yourself is to develop an elevator speech. What can you tell someone about yourself and your profession in the time it takes to ride up a few floors? By condensing your thoughts and finding the highlights to point out, you can ensure that you are marketing yourself and your profession to the utmost. Log onto http://www.nata.org/ and look through some of their public relations publications for some ideas.
Also, a true grassroots effort is essential for a culture change within a school, clinic, outreach or other place of employment. Educating athletes, coaches, supervisors, principles and clients who come in and out of our daily lives is the best way to reach the people we impact the most. Casual comments about schooling, certification and continuing education let those people know that we are a true allied health profession. Talking about the various facets and domains which we deal with on a daily, weekly or yearly basis lets people know what a diverse profession it is. Praising the ability of an athletic trainer to work with everyone from a high school athlete to a professional dancer to an astronaut supports the ever evolving adaptations of athletic training and the emerging possibilities of placement for us.
You don’t need a marketing or PR degree to have an impact on the perception of your profession. Your daily walk, talk and demeanor tell the world everything. Practice your elevator speech on someone this week, tell someone what it took for you to get where you are today… who knows where it might lead you or another athletic trainer tomorrow.
We often associate marketing with the business world, but if we stop and think about the efforts of SWATA, NATA and even our own place of employment, marketing is necessary to promote relationships and build up our image. How many times have you had to explain what an athletic trainer is and does?
My good friend once told me the key to marketing yourself is to develop an elevator speech. What can you tell someone about yourself and your profession in the time it takes to ride up a few floors? By condensing your thoughts and finding the highlights to point out, you can ensure that you are marketing yourself and your profession to the utmost. Log onto http://www.nata.org/ and look through some of their public relations publications for some ideas.
Also, a true grassroots effort is essential for a culture change within a school, clinic, outreach or other place of employment. Educating athletes, coaches, supervisors, principles and clients who come in and out of our daily lives is the best way to reach the people we impact the most. Casual comments about schooling, certification and continuing education let those people know that we are a true allied health profession. Talking about the various facets and domains which we deal with on a daily, weekly or yearly basis lets people know what a diverse profession it is. Praising the ability of an athletic trainer to work with everyone from a high school athlete to a professional dancer to an astronaut supports the ever evolving adaptations of athletic training and the emerging possibilities of placement for us.
You don’t need a marketing or PR degree to have an impact on the perception of your profession. Your daily walk, talk and demeanor tell the world everything. Practice your elevator speech on someone this week, tell someone what it took for you to get where you are today… who knows where it might lead you or another athletic trainer tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
To Much Action
Concussions
For most athletic trainers Friday night is spent on the sidelines with a close eye on as much of the actual play as possible. We try to see the play, but if you’re like me you spend more time zeroing in on kids that have gone down awkwardly or been on the wrong end of a violent collision. I cover a 3A high school that is fortunate enough to have a local GP physician that loves football and is on the sideline for every game. Dr. Miller is glad to assist in anyway possible during the game but the responsibility of getting the job done is mine. Occasionally I act as the athletic trainer for both teams, so it can get really interesting. Most of my time is spent covering wounds or evaluating the bumps and bruises suffered during play and missing all of the action. I’m sure that I’m preaching to the choir but it gets pretty busy. It is impossible for one athletic trainer to see everything that happens! During the game I was covering Friday night a very small running back from the other team chose to hit the wrong hole and took a nasty (perfectly legal) hit. He popped up and appeared disorientated as he staggered the wrong direction and then back toward his huddle. Looking across the field at their athletic trainer and their team doctor it was obvious that all the other players had completely blocked them from seeing the damaging result of the hit. As I was hobbling (this new high dollar Achilles isn’t getting the job done yet) toward the sideline judge to get play stopped one of the kid’s teammates got the attention of the white hat and play was stopped. The young man was sent to the sideline and was evaluated by the athletic trainer and team doctor. I saw teammates recognizing a hurt teammate and making sure he got help. The young man returned to the game later. (Stay with me I’m working my way to a point.)
Did anyone see the Philadelphia Green Bay game Sunday? Did you see the Stewart Bradely concussion? He collided with a teammate’s leg, barely made it to his feet long enough to stumble, then quickly falls back to the ground. He was helped to the sideline and before long back in the game. The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot more medical staff on the sidelines then most of us could even imagine having during a game and even they can’t see everything that happens. It is hard for me to believe that no one on their sideline saw what happened on the field. But he was evaluated quickly and returned to the game. Even if no medical staff saw him struggling surely another player or coach saw it. Why didn’t anyone step up and tell the medical staff what they saw? In the medical staff’s defense they were slammed by major injuries over a very short period of time before Bradely went down and could all easily been busy during the event. Further more the Philadelphia medical staff is very well respected among the league and known for being quite conservative with concussions. After halftime Bradely was not allowed to return.
Now finally I can make my points.
1) Athletic trainers may be a little superhuman but we can’t see everything all the time. We need game officials, coaches, and players to be our eyes when ours are unable to be two places at once. If we properly educate those around us of the obvious signs of a concussion then they can send an athlete to us if we are unable to see the injury happen. 2) It takes time to do a quality concussion evaluation. Not necessarily a lot of time because of the many tests that can be performed but the duration of time for the evaluation. Athletic trainers are well trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion. We also know that symptoms may not be experienced immediately and often develop or worsen over time. It is easy to get caught in “get it done mode” and do a very good evaluation before symptoms have had time to set in. So slow down and see if symptoms develop over time.
For most athletic trainers Friday night is spent on the sidelines with a close eye on as much of the actual play as possible. We try to see the play, but if you’re like me you spend more time zeroing in on kids that have gone down awkwardly or been on the wrong end of a violent collision. I cover a 3A high school that is fortunate enough to have a local GP physician that loves football and is on the sideline for every game. Dr. Miller is glad to assist in anyway possible during the game but the responsibility of getting the job done is mine. Occasionally I act as the athletic trainer for both teams, so it can get really interesting. Most of my time is spent covering wounds or evaluating the bumps and bruises suffered during play and missing all of the action. I’m sure that I’m preaching to the choir but it gets pretty busy. It is impossible for one athletic trainer to see everything that happens! During the game I was covering Friday night a very small running back from the other team chose to hit the wrong hole and took a nasty (perfectly legal) hit. He popped up and appeared disorientated as he staggered the wrong direction and then back toward his huddle. Looking across the field at their athletic trainer and their team doctor it was obvious that all the other players had completely blocked them from seeing the damaging result of the hit. As I was hobbling (this new high dollar Achilles isn’t getting the job done yet) toward the sideline judge to get play stopped one of the kid’s teammates got the attention of the white hat and play was stopped. The young man was sent to the sideline and was evaluated by the athletic trainer and team doctor. I saw teammates recognizing a hurt teammate and making sure he got help. The young man returned to the game later. (Stay with me I’m working my way to a point.)
Did anyone see the Philadelphia Green Bay game Sunday? Did you see the Stewart Bradely concussion? He collided with a teammate’s leg, barely made it to his feet long enough to stumble, then quickly falls back to the ground. He was helped to the sideline and before long back in the game. The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot more medical staff on the sidelines then most of us could even imagine having during a game and even they can’t see everything that happens. It is hard for me to believe that no one on their sideline saw what happened on the field. But he was evaluated quickly and returned to the game. Even if no medical staff saw him struggling surely another player or coach saw it. Why didn’t anyone step up and tell the medical staff what they saw? In the medical staff’s defense they were slammed by major injuries over a very short period of time before Bradely went down and could all easily been busy during the event. Further more the Philadelphia medical staff is very well respected among the league and known for being quite conservative with concussions. After halftime Bradely was not allowed to return.
Now finally I can make my points.
1) Athletic trainers may be a little superhuman but we can’t see everything all the time. We need game officials, coaches, and players to be our eyes when ours are unable to be two places at once. If we properly educate those around us of the obvious signs of a concussion then they can send an athlete to us if we are unable to see the injury happen. 2) It takes time to do a quality concussion evaluation. Not necessarily a lot of time because of the many tests that can be performed but the duration of time for the evaluation. Athletic trainers are well trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion. We also know that symptoms may not be experienced immediately and often develop or worsen over time. It is easy to get caught in “get it done mode” and do a very good evaluation before symptoms have had time to set in. So slow down and see if symptoms develop over time.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Being VISIBLE
I want to talk about something that I feel our staff does really well. We are always VISIBLE at our school. We try to make an appearance every day in the front office. We always let it be known that "when we are available, we are willing to help out in any way we can." This can be the single best thing you can ever do in your job.
I know some of you may think I am crazy. You may ask, why would you ask to do more when you are already completely busy, and loaded down? The answer is simple. If you don't offer your assistance, the powers that be will most certainly require it at the most inopportune time. When they ask for volunteers, be the first to sign up. That way you get to choose what your task is. And when they assign you this task, do it to the best of your ability and with enthusiasm. I promise, they will remember this. When everyone else is complaining that "this is not my job", and have that pissed off look on their face, that will be remembered also.
My next tip for you is to find one member of your administration(ours is an assistant principal), that you can really hammer this with. We always tell them, "you know, we are pretty busy, but we will find a way to make it work." Doing this over the years has grown a huge appreciation for what we do. Now when they need something, they don't tell us what they need, they ask us if we are available. The quote from last year was,"Guys I'm so sorry. I know its last minute, and you have so many other things to do, but could you direct kids into the gym so we can...(not sure what the rest was)." What i do remember was me standing in the hall and pointing at the gym. Other negative attitude teachers were getting beat down by 2000 kids confined to a small area. My point with one is if you find a person in that kind of position, this will make them want to fight for you. They will do return the favor, and do everything they can to get you the sweet gig on a day full of beatings.
Being VISIBLE can only help you. It will allow people to see you, know that you are always around and working hard. They will see that, and will want to help you in return.
I know some of you may think I am crazy. You may ask, why would you ask to do more when you are already completely busy, and loaded down? The answer is simple. If you don't offer your assistance, the powers that be will most certainly require it at the most inopportune time. When they ask for volunteers, be the first to sign up. That way you get to choose what your task is. And when they assign you this task, do it to the best of your ability and with enthusiasm. I promise, they will remember this. When everyone else is complaining that "this is not my job", and have that pissed off look on their face, that will be remembered also.
My next tip for you is to find one member of your administration(ours is an assistant principal), that you can really hammer this with. We always tell them, "you know, we are pretty busy, but we will find a way to make it work." Doing this over the years has grown a huge appreciation for what we do. Now when they need something, they don't tell us what they need, they ask us if we are available. The quote from last year was,"Guys I'm so sorry. I know its last minute, and you have so many other things to do, but could you direct kids into the gym so we can...(not sure what the rest was)." What i do remember was me standing in the hall and pointing at the gym. Other negative attitude teachers were getting beat down by 2000 kids confined to a small area. My point with one is if you find a person in that kind of position, this will make them want to fight for you. They will do return the favor, and do everything they can to get you the sweet gig on a day full of beatings.
Being VISIBLE can only help you. It will allow people to see you, know that you are always around and working hard. They will see that, and will want to help you in return.
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