SAN DIEGO, Calif. – April 6, 2012 – When a young athlete gets hurt, an athletic trainer sometimes has just seconds to assess the injury and decide on a course of action.

That decision can often be the difference between life and death – shouldn’t the person making the decisions be a licensed professional? Our young athletes deserve to be protected by professionals verified by the state to hold the education and skills necessary to keep our children safe.

The California Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA) along with Senator Alan Lowenthal, want California to do what 47 other states already do – license the athletic training profession. 

Introduced on February 23, SB 1273, otherwise known as the “Athletic Trainers Practice Act,” would provide for the licensure and regulation of athletic trainers and prohibit any person without the proper credentials from engaging in the practice of athletic training without a license.

The bill is designed to be cost-neutral, (meaning it won’t cost taxpayer’s any money), with all costs associated with licensure applications and renewals covering the costs of maintaining the bill. Essentially, athletic trainers will be paying for their own licensure.

“Athletic trainers save lives, it’s as simple as that,” says Mike West, President of the CATA. “But until the state acknowledges the important role we play, young athletes will continue to be at risk, under the supervision of someone who may not actually be qualified to recognize or respond to a life-threatening injury or illness.”

Despite the vital role athletic trainers play in the safety of our young athletes, California does not currently require licensure of athletic trainers and is in fact, one of only three states that doesn’t even regulate the profession, meaning anyone can label him/herself an athletic trainer without holding the proper credentials – giving athletes, parents and coaches a false sense of safety and leaving athletes at risk for injury, even death.

“Worse, out of state individuals who were not able to obtain licensure, or who lost their license can, come to CA and practice,” added West.

Nowhere else is this more crucial than at the secondary school levels. As kids increasingly begin specializing in a particular sport there’s been a growing incidence of serious injuries and complications resulting from overuse and intensive over-training.

Recent studies show a significant increase in catastrophic injuries that have resulted in death or permanent disability of youth athletes. In the past three years, over 36 California high school students have died due to sports-related injuries – many of which might have been saved if there had been a qualified athletic trainer.

SB 1273 would directly impact the safety of athletes by mandating these specific requirements for licensure:

• Must have completed athletic trainer certification eligibility requirements from an athletic training education program at a four-year college or university approved by the committee.
• Must pass a comprehensive nationally accredited certification exam approved by the Athletic Training Licensing Committee
• Must possess an emergency cardiac care certification
• Pay application fees established by the Athletic Training Licensing Committee

The bill would also specify that a license expires in two years and is subject to renewal upon payment of a renewal fee and the completion of continuing education hours in order to keep their knowledge and skills current.

“It’s our responsibility to ensure we provide our kids a safe environment to participate in athletics,” says Lowenthal. “By licensing athletic trainers, parents coaches, players and school administrators can be assured that the athletic trainer looking after a student’s safety has the specific medical education and hands-on experience needed to respond to emergency and non-emergency situations.”

About the California Athletic Trainers Association (CATA):

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the provision of physical medicine and rehabilitation services, serving as physician extenders in the prevention, assessment and treatment of acute and chronic injuries and illnesses. The California Athletic Trainers Association (http://www.ca-at.org) represents and supports 2,200 members of the athletic training profession through communication and education

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Additionally, there is an optional Tecnica Gavilan Hands-on Workshop presented by Gary Lang, ATC on Saturday, February 25 available for 6 CEUs.

Click here  for more information and how to register.

Watch the San Diego 10News report on the launch of Athletes Saving Athletes.

For additional information visit San Diego 6

CATA President, Mike West and San Diego athletic trainer, Robbie Bowers were recently interviewed by The San Diego Union-Tribune about the importance of AED accessibility.

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

The California Athletic Trainers’ Association Says Schools Need to be Prepared for Cardiac Emergencies

SAN DIEGO, October 2011 – Picture the typical cardiac arrest patient and what comes to mind? Certainly not a high school athlete.

But that was the case last Friday, when a 16-year-old Los Angeles High School cheerleader collapsed to the ground and later died despite resuscitation efforts.

And she is not alone.  This past year there have been several reports of young athletes suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). In fact, in just one month, four teen athletes suffered SCA – Wes Leonard, a high school basketball player from Michigan, Matthew Hammerdorfer, a 17-year-old Colorado rugby player, Jarvis Brinkley, a 16-year-old basketball player from North Carolina  and Robert Garza, a 16-year-old Texas basketball player.

“SCA is the number one killer of young athletes,” says Mike West, President of the California Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA).

Each year thousands of kids die from SCA ranging from infants to adolescents and, approximately 50-100 sudden deaths occur specifically among athletes in middle school, high school and college.

“Sadly, many of these deaths could have been prevented with a thorough pre-season physical to detect any pre-existing heart conditions or with the timely use of an AED,” says West.

While SCA can strike without warning there can be pre-cursory signs, like fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains, dizziness and/or racing heart rate – but they often go undetected by coaches and parents who may not have the medical expertise to realize a potentially life threatening condition.

According to the American Heart Association, timely application of an AED could save 50,000 lives from sudden cardiac arrest.  Since brain damage starts to occur in just four to six minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest, it is essential to restore a normal heartbeat—which only an electric shock can do—as soon as possible. A victim’s chances of survival are reduced by 7 to 10 percent with every minute that passes without defibrillation.

The survival rate of SCA victims who receive defibrillation within the first three to five minutes is 75 percent as compared to those who do not receive an electric shock—their chances are reduced to 5 percent.

Currently, state and Federal laws require AEDs in every airport, and on every commercial liner and health club, but California legislation only recommends that school districts implement AED programs.

Until recently, many schools have been hesitant about purchasing an AED due to financial restraints, but now, the life-saving machines that used to cost upwards of $3,000 can be purchased for a minimal $1,000.

“Immediate care by qualified personnel with the appropriate equipment saves lives,” says West. “AEDs are affordable, easy to use and maintain. They should be in every school in California, and all school staff should be trained on how to use the device as well as perform CPR.”

About the California Athletic Trainers Association (CATA):
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the provision of physical medicine and rehabilitation services, serving as physician extenders in the prevention, assessment and treatment of acute and chronic injuries and illnesses. The California Athletic Trainers Association (http://www.ca-at.org) represents and supports 2,200 members of the athletic training profession through communication and education

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We’re so happy to say our efforts and contributions towards passing AB 25 have been successful: California has implemented a new Concussion Bill to protect student athletes. This is a good step, but it’s just a first step – we’ll continue to fight for state regulation of the athletic training profession in California in order to further ensure the safety of our student athletes.

Click here for more information about this bill.

In light of the NFL lawsuit, our very own Mike Chisar of Diablo Valley College was interviewed by KTVU (Channel 2 in Oakland) health and science reporter, John Fowler, regarding the seriousness of concussion trauma and the prolonged risks of repeated blows to the head.