Wilson High School in Pennsylvania Wins National Athletic Trainer Association's (NATA) Safe Sports School Award
West Lawn, PA (PRWEB) March 18, 2014 -- Wilson High School in West Lawn, Pennsylvania became the third secondary school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to receive the the NATA's Safe Sports School Award on March 7, 2014. NATA Hall of Fame member, Joe Iezzi, nominated Wilson High School for the award.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) launched the Safe Sports School Award program in March 2013 following the Annual Youth Sports Safety Summit. The award which was designed specifically for secondary school settings across the country, is given to secondary schools if they meet a minimum of ten criteria. The award has a first team and a second team distinction based on the number of criteria the school actually achieves. Some of the required criteria include, having a dedicated space for athletic injury evaluations and rehabilitation as well as creating emergency action plans that includes protocols for environmental issues like heat illness, lightning, and cold weather. The emergency action plan must also be rehearsed so all parties know their roles in an emergency situation.
Wilson’s head athletic trainer John “Doc” Moyer and assistant athletic trainer Kiernan Melograna accepted the award from AJ Duffy who represented the NATA. The Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society (PATS) President Yvette Ingram spoke on the benefits of having an Athletic Trainer in the secondary school setting and US Representative Jim Gerlach addressed the audience on the importance of the Athletes Bill of Rights. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Linda Mazzoli PATS Executive Director and Mr. Joe Iezzi, they offered additional comments and information on various sport safety and health care issues.
Kiernan Melograna commented about receiving the award, “By receiving this award from the NATA, we have confirmed our commitment to keeping our athletes safe during practices and games as they work to achieve their goals of success, sportsmanship and good health."
A specific criterion of the award is dedicated to addressing environmental issues in the emergency action plan. Moyer addressed how this is done at Wilson High school. “The beauty of the application is that it can be used as a checks and balance to see what is already in place and to see what needs to be added or improved. We have always had a lightning protection plan and heat protocols, but we had to create a plan for cold emergencies.”
The Wilson High School administration was also very honored to be recognized with this award. “Our administration was extremely supportive of our efforts and they were certainly thrilled when we were selected as a 1st Team Safe Sports School by the NATA” Moyer reported. “I was excited to see members of the Wilson Administration and School Board take time out of their busy day to come and celebrate the honor John and Kiernan have worked so hard to achieve. It is support like this that highlights the commitment Wilson School District has for their student athletes” said PATS President Yvette Ingram.
The NATA and Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society (PATS) encourage all secondary schools to review their school safety criteria and if they qualify apply for this award. The application process for the Safe Sports School Award is very easy to download from the NATA website. “I feel that every secondary school should apply for this honor. It allows a secondary school sports medicine program to make sure that all the pieces are in place to provide the safest environment for secondary school athletes” John Moyer, PATS President-Elect.
For more information regarding this topic or to schedule an interview with PATS President Yvette Ingram, PhD, LAT, ATC, please contact Linda Mazzoli MS, LAT, ATC, PATS Executive Director at patsexecutivedirector(at)gopats(dot)org.
The Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society, Inc. is a progressive organization of licensed health care professionals who work under the direction of a licensed physician. Our society continues to increase public awareness and education regarding Athletic Trainers and the Athletic Training profession while serving as the premier source of information for public safety, injury and illness prevention, early intervention, patient care, and healthcare delivery for the physically active in the Commonwealth.
“The Keystone to a Healthy and Physically Active Life”
Mike Prybicien, District 2 National Athletic Trainers Association, http://www.natad2.org/, +1 (201) 788-2961, [email protected]
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