Our Specialty-Part 2

Kim Detwiler recently wrote on the NATA Blog...

***What are the traditional skills of the certified athletic trainer?
Thorough and systematic injury evaluation.
Accurate assessment and diagnosis.
Efficient, effective, and responsible rehabilitation.
Injury prevention and wellness education.
Providing quality care to athletes and active individuals.
Problem solving and critical thinking.
Helping people.***


Athletic trainers are many things to many people. Attempting to balance what is asked of us with what we are supposed to do is often a daily battle.  I, myself, am attempting to refocus my duties so that I can be the best athletic training practitioner and not the best athletic trainer/secretary/catering manager/everything else.


Few things can make you recognize your importance like a "routine injury" that turns out not to be so routine.  I recently had a situation like this...a JV girl's soccer player took a ball to the face.  A typical occurrence in soccer.  I trot out to the field thinking she was only going to be a little dazed.  She complains of a blind spot, and after further evaluation, and very little pupillary response, I determine she has a serious eye injury.
Would a lay person without our education and expertise come to that same conclusion, in that short, very crucial, period of time?


Or take for example what occurred on Wednesday at two Houston area high schools. A student athlete collapsed during a "routine" work-out.  In both situations the athletic trainers spring into action and stabilize the child for transport.  This article even mentions the athletic trainer. Good work, guys!  You did a great job.


Sports Safety IS a Team Effort.  Athletic trainers are the coach, quarterback, goalie and the anchor leg.  We respond first and determine the course of action.  THAT is our specialty.