Are you Prepared for Your Summer Sports League?

School is ending in the coming week(s) and summer will be officially under way for many families.  With summer comes camps, vacations and travel teams.  With all this parents should be aware of how (and by whom) their children's health and safety is being managed.  Parents who have children who will be signing up for fall travel sports should also begin asking questions now about health and safety concerns. Asking questions early means that if changes need to be implemented there is time before the actual sporting season begins.  In an effort to help parents ask the right questions here are five questions every parent should ask before their children participates in organized sports.

DOES THE LEAGUE HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN (EAP) IN PLACE?

This post defines what an EAP in and the major components is should include.  It also refers readers to a key resource regarding EAP development, the NATA Position Statement on emergency planning.  While there are several conditions that may require specific detailed EAPs, given the focus on concussions time is spent specifically on the topic.

IS THERE AN ATHLETIC TRAINER AVAILABLE?

This post takes a significant amount of time to make you familiar with what an athletic trainer is and the skills they have.  Much time is spent on the major educational requirements and the knowledge and skill areas athletic trainers are qualified in once they pass the national certification examination and begin practicing.  The post also introduces you to the major organizations associated with athletic trainers including the NATA, BOC and CAATE.  There are also a variety of position statements put out by the NATA on topics such as heat illness, emergency planning concussions, asthma and other topics that are relevant to youth athletes and are available for public review.

IS SOMEONE WHO IS TRAINED IN CPR AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES?

This post explains what CPR is and how you can become trained to utilize it in an emergency.  Links are provided to the three major organizations that provide courses around the topic of CPR (and AED) as well as providing information on the topic of hands-only CPR.  

IS THERE AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) AVAILABLE?

This post takes the time to explain what an AED is, how it works and how to use it.  Many states also have public access laws in place which means when you're in the airport, at the mall, or at the public pool there may be an AED available for use in an emergency.  This post can help you understand where AEDs may already be available in your state and to help you get AEDs in your school or for your league if you don't have them already.

ARE COACHES TRAINED IN KEY SPORT SAFETY GUIDELINES?

This posts lists/discusses key governing organizations for some of the most popular youth sports such as USA Football, AYSO and Little League Baseball among others.  It also discusses key equipment safety organizations such as NOCSAE and HECC and finally provided some resources for proper coaching technique around football tackling and managing baseball pitch counts in young players.

Submitted by Heather L. Clemons, MS, MBA, ATC