At the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (NATA) annual convention, the executive summary of the appropriate care of the spine-injured athlete was updated from the original 1998 statement to include the removal of athletic equipment before a player goes to a hospital.
“These updated recommendations are critical to ensure proper and immediate care of the athlete and to reduce or prevent catastrophic outcomes,” NATA Vice President MaryBeth Horodyski reported in the NATA press release.
NATA reports 12,500 new cases of spinal cord injuries every year in the United States with almost 10 percent of cases occurring from sports and recreational activities. Rational behind the updated summary came from athletic trainers’ experience of equipment removal compared to other medical team members or hospital emergency staff, which is what the 1998 statement was originally based on.
“Equipment worn for protective purposes presents a treatment barrier for basic or advanced life support to the airway and chest. Removal of equipment prior to transport is one of our most important updated recommendations,” Horodyski said.
Azalea is committed to supporting youth sports programs and the spinal cord injury updates are in important step in the injury treatment process. With the sensitivity of spinal injuries, the proper care for patients in the pre-hospital setting is crucial.
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