NATA Now

Helmet safety was a hot topic in the October NATA News. In addition to the cover story on research being conducted at the University of Southern Mississippi related to football and warfighter helmets, the edition features a new infographic handout on football helmet fitting. The football helmet is a player’s first line of defense, and an ill-fitting helmet can be dangerous.

The cover story of the October NATA News, our annual Research Issue, examined a $4.9 million research project funded by the Department of Defense and U.S. Army to improve safety for warfighters through advanced liner systems and a better understanding of brain injuries.

After the first quarterly meeting of the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers' Society, President Daniel Young, MAT, ATC, LAT, composed a letter addressing the consequences of Hurricane Harvey. Included in the letter were details on how GHATS is providing assistance and how other athletic trainers can provide (and request) help. Below is an excerpt with this information:   

If you or your non-AT friends and family want to donate to athletic trainers, donate directly to the TSATA’s relief fund.

The Texas State Athletic Trainers' Association has started a relief fund for athletic trainers in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey with an initial donation of $1,000. Anyone can donate and contributions are being accepted via check or PayPal. Additionally, ATs in Texas who are in need of assistance can specify their areas of need via a form on the website. Information about a resource to assist those affected by Hurricane Irma will also be available in the near future.

As athletic trainers continue to gain recognition and credibility in the health care arena, new standards are being placed on those in the profession—one such being documentation.

On behalf of the ATs Care CISM peer-support team, I want to reach out to those of you dealing with the ongoing effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma to express our concerns for your safety and to let you know that the athletic training community has you in our thoughts and prayers. We understand that looking at email and thinking about more than what you need to do to get through today are most likely not on your priority list.

This social media sensation experienced his first NATA convention in Houston and sat down with the NATA News all about his memorable experience. You can follow the LEGO AT’s hilarious adventures on Twitter (@LEGO_­ATC), Facebook (@LEGOATC), Instagram (@LEGO_ATC) and Tumblr (LEGOATC.tumblr.com).

As part of NCAA requirements and athletic training best practices, athletic trainers in the collegiate setting are tasked with giving educational presentations to their coaching staff and administration on important health and safety issues, such as heat illness, concussions, drug testing and inclement weather.

In the August/September NATA News, the NATA 2017 recap issue, we took a closer look at the “Assisting Individuals in Crisis” course held June 25-26 by NATA’s ATs Care Committee. During the two-day course, attendees learned about Critical Incident Stress Management, created by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and what they can do to help their fellow ATs build resiliency to stress.

The NCAA Sports Science Institute recently produced “Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention: An Athletics Tool Kit.” This new resource is supported and endorsed by NATA.