The NATA Critical Care Recognition Program is designed to recognize any NATA member who is directly involved with a critical care event.* Critical care is medical care for people who have life-threatening injuries, illnesses and events.
*Excluded events are those that occur when an NATA member is functioning in a capacity other than as an athletic trainer.
About the Program
The goal of the NATA Critical Care Recognition Program is to recognize members who provide critical care, such as but not limited to:
- Cardiac compromise
- Respiratory compromise
- Conditions related to the environment: lightning, heat, cold
- Cervical spine compromise
- Internal and external hemorrhage
- Anaphylaxis
- Mental health crisis intervention
- School shootings and other traumatic events
- Exertional sickling, rhabdomyolysis, and hyponatremia
- Drug overdose
By doing this, NATA is celebrating the unique skill set of the athletic trainer as well as increasing the public’s understanding of the athletic training profession and the essential role ATs have in health care.
Recognition
NATA Critical Care Recognition recipients will receive a certificate of recognition and a letter from the NATA executive director and president. Additionally, the athletic trainer can be recognized, with their permission, in multiple outlets (e.g., state, district, national levels; publicly accessible list on NATA website; NATA News; social media).
Submission Process
The recognition form should be submitted to NATA as soon as possible after the event, but preferably within 365 days of the event. Submissions may be made by the involved athletic trainer, an NATA member or any person who is aware of the event. Along with the recognition form, additional documents may be included, such as:
- A copy of a newspaper article covering the event
- A copy of a radio/television report covering the event
- Letter from patient(s) who was treated
- Letter from an immediate family member of patient who was treated
- Letter from a bystander or witness to the event
- Letter from attending medical personnel (EMT, paramedic, emergency room physician)
- Letter from athletic trainer’s supervisor/employer
- Social media from a reputable source