Ludington Hospital

Spectrum Health Sports Medicine enables Ludington High School to win Safe Sports Award

September 19, 2017

Ludington High School has recently been named one of only 23 high schools in Michigan as the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its Orioles athletic program. The award champions safety, recognizes high schools that provide safe environments for student athletes and reinforces the importance of providing injury prevention and treatment.

 

“Ludington High School is honored to receive this first team recognition from NATA, and we remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship and good health. Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players and the Spectrum Health Medical Group’s Sports Medicine program is helping us to do just that,” said Randy Fountain, Athletic Director, Ludington Orioles.

 

“When I first started working with Ludington High School a little over a year ago, I knew I wanted to achieve this award from the NATA,” said Jenn Mroz, Spectrum Health Medical Group’s athletic trainer assigned to Ludington Area Schools. “It was about bringing Ludington High School beyond the minimum standards of athlete safety. Working with Randy, we gradually implemented all of the stringent requirements for eligibility. It’s a great accomplishment for a high school that only one year ago got a full-time athletic trainer. It shows how committed the school is to our sports medicine program and to providing the very best for their student athletes.”

 

In order to achieve Safe Sport School status, athletic programs must do the following:

 

  • Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
  • Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
  • Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
  • Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
  • Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
  • Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
  • Provide or facilitate injury intervention
  • Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
  • Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
  • Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

 

Funding for this award was provided by the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association.

“We remain committed to the health and welfare of young athletes in competitive sports,” says NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “This award recognizes the contributions and commitment of schools across the country that are implementing safe sports policies and best practices to ensure athletes can do what they love best and have the appropriate care in place to prevent, manage and treat injuries should they occur.”

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