We are proud to announce that, for the second time, all 12 Howard County High Schools have received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School Award for its Sports Medicine Programs. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.
“All Howard County High Schools are honored to receive this 1st Team recognition from NATA, and we remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship and good health. Our goal is to lead our athletic programs to the highest safety standards for our players,” said a representive of the HCPSS High School Athletic Trainers.
John Davis, CAA Coordinator of Athletics for HCPSS stated, “The time and dedication these athletic trainers put into our student-athletes is second to none. They are truly wonderful professionals who continue to add value to our sports program.”
Additionally, Alli Hammond, Regional Coordinator for PIVOT Physical Therapy and athletic trainer for Wilde Lake High School said, “I would like to recognize the other 11 athletic trainers that worked so hard to maintain this award and their continued dedication to the profession and their student athletes as well as their community.”
“We remain committed to the health and welfare of young athletes in competitive sports,” said NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “This award recognizes the contributions and commitment of schools across the country that are implementing safe sports policies and best practices to ensure athletes can do what they love best and have the appropriate care in place to prevent, manage and treat injuries should they occur.”
In order to achieve Safe Sport School status, the athletic programs must do the following:
- Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
- Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
- Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
- Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
- Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
- Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
- Provide or facilitate injury intervention
- Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
- Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
- Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities
In summary, we would like to send congratulations to all 12 of our HCPSS High Schools (Atholton, Centennial, Glenelg, Hammond, Howard, Long Reach, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Reservoir, River Hill and Wilde Lake) on their outstanding achievement and exemplary dedication to our students and our athletics programs.
For more information please visit: www.athletictrainers.org.
About NATA: National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents and supports 44,000 members of the athletic training profession. Visit www.nata.org.