Its sometimes the little things that make the difference

Its sometimes the little things that make the difference Jim mackie, M.Ed., ATC, LAT I just read of a tragic situation where a young high school athlete in New York died of a heat stroke during a strenuous football conditioning or practice session in July. This is one of the most preventable causes of death in sports. Unfortunately there was not an athletic trainer at the school to help prevent, advocate or care for the athlete. The mother claims the son was recovering from an infection and should have not been pushed so hard. Not assigning blame to anyone in this situation, but it’s imperative that there be good communication between athletes, parents, coaches and the athletic trainer when an athlete return following illness or injury. They often want to return “full bore” but would benefit from an evaluation and progressive return to play. This is especially important when the body’s immune system has been compromised or there was excessive fluid loss from diarrhea or vomiting. Weights need to be monitored and knowledge of medications they are taking may also influence the bodies response to stress & exertion. Stay safe when returning to sports following an injury or illness.