ONTARIO, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—OhioHealth athletic trainers are stepping up their game to ensure student athletes have the best chance at full recovery if they get injured on the field. In a proactive move, they’re collaborating with local first responders to prepare for every possible scenario.
On Monday, OhioHealth athletic trainers joined forces with Springfield Township EMS at Ontario High School. The focus of the day was practicing treatment of trauma injuries on the football field. Tyler Sipes, an OhioHealth Athletic Trainer, guided trainers through various situations. Some scenarios required athletic trainers to cut through pads or load athletes onto a spine board.
Sipes emphasized the importance of preparation, stating, “This is an important part of our practice for us every year. We are the first line of medical personnel that gets on the field when an athlete gets hurt, so it’s important for us to know what we’re doing, as we’re the only ones there until EMS arrives. We have to be prepared for a little bit of everything until they get there.”
OhioHealth is now the exclusive sports medicine provider for Ontario Local Schools. The school system will benefit from two full-time athletic trainers year-round to meet the needs of student athletes at all levels. OhioHealth also provides CPR and first aid courses for coaches, concussion baseline testing for athletes, wrestling weight assessments, pre-participation sports physicals, and other selected medical services.
Lisa Parker, associate manager of OhioHealth Sports Medicine, expressed excitement about the partnership. “OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital and our Sports Medicine Team are excited to bring our quality program to the Ontario School District. The OhioHealth Sports Medicine program has a strong base since its inception in 2006 and our program has continued to grow as we have more than 180 athletic trainers at more than 90 schools. We are ready to go and looking forward to our partnership with the Ontario School District for many years to come.”
Ontario High School is gearing up for its first football game on August 23rd. Sipes, the OhioHealth athletic trainer for Ontario Local Schools, will be on the sideline, ready to help treat any potential injury.