TIPS FROM THE ATHLETIC TRAINING FACILITY

If your son/daughter, who is participating in athletics here at Jackson HS, is complaining of pain or being hurt, there are two things you can do to help them feel better faster:  Ice the area for 15 minutes and tell them to see me, Brenda Black, the Certified Athletic Trainer.  The Athletic Training Facility entrance is by the Boy’s Locker room and opens at 2:05 every day.  No appointment is needed, just come on in!

First, have them ice the area.  If the complaint is about their shins, Ice massage works best.  Dixie cups, empty yogurt containers, etc, filled with water and frozen, create large ice cubes and are perfect for ice massage. Wrap a cloth around the bottom after it’s been taken out of the container to hold on to while rubbing up and down the shin for 7-10 minutes. 

For bigger areas, ice bags lain on the injured area for 15-20 minutes is the most effective.  I recommend using a bag of frozen peas or corn as a reusable ice bag.  You’ll want to mark it, so you don’t cook them later.  They are less expensive, stay cold longer and last longer than the blue ice packs you can buy.

If you need to take you athlete to the doctor, it is VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO BRING ME A NOTE FROM YOUR DOCTOR WITH PERMISSION FOR YOUR CHILD TO RETURN TO FULL ACTIVITY.  Without this, the coaches and I MUST hold him/her out of games and practices.  The exceptions are visits to the orthodontist (unless the injury is to the mouth/teeth), dermatologist or chiropractor (if the visit is for a routine adjustment).  If you have any doubts, ask for the note – especially if they don’t say you have to rest. If they say you don’t need one, tell them the WIAA requires it (Sec 18).  Your doctor cannot legally fax the notes at my request, it must come from you.  Notes MUST come from a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), Physician's Assistant (PA), and Naturopathic Physician, a Dentist or Podiatric Physician where appropriate.  This is a separate note from the one needed for attendance and/or PE.

Lystedt’s law states that any time your child is suspected of a head injury, he/she will be taken out of activity and may not return until cleared by an MD, PA-C, DO, ARNP or a Certified Athletic Trainer (that’s me!).  Please see my website for the return to play protocol. 

Both of the last two items are true whether the injury occurs while playing for Jackson or not!!

My job is to help keep your child participating in or returning to their activity as safely and quickly as possible.  By following these tips, you can help me help your child!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Brenda Black, MS, AT,C., AT/l

bblack@everettsd.org    425 385-7038

WIAA Handbook 2022-23

18.4.4 To resume participation following medical care by a medical authority licensed to perform a physical examination and/or a dentist (for dental injury) or podiatric physician (for a foot and/or ankle injury), a participating student must present to the school officials a written release from a medical authority licensed to perform physical examinations as listed in 18.4.2 and/or a dentist or podiatric physician as applicable.

18.4.2 Those licensed to perform physical examinations include a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), Physician’s Assistant (PA), and Naturopathic Physician.

18.4.5 To resume participation following medical care for suspicion of concussion or concussion, both the school athletic director and the medical authorities approved by the WIAA to make return to practice/play decisions (MD, DO, PA, ARNP, LAT) shall use the WIAA’s designated “Return to Practice and Competition for Athletes with a Suspected Concussion” form. This new rule will be known as the “Kenney Bui Rule.”