Otsego High School is the proud recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School 1st team award for its Mercy Health – Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine program.

 

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. It also recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes.

 

“Otsego High School is very honored to receive this recognition from NATA, and we remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, fair sportsmanship and good health,” said Adam Koch, superintendent. “Our goal is to lead our athletic program to the highest safety standards for our players.”

With a focus on improving the community health and well-being, Mercy Health has formed a partnership with area schools like Otsego to provide an athletic trainer for the school’s athletics program.

Adam Koch, Jen Mag, certified athletic trainer for Otsego, and Burton Rogers, Mercy Health – Toledo’s regional administrator for Sports Medicine, share the same focus.

 

"The partnership between Otsego Schools and Mercy Health has a common goal – the safety and well-being of the Otsego athletes is paramount," Rogers said.

 
In order to achieve Safe Sport School status athletic programs must:

 

  • 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

 

For more information on this award, please visit www.athletictrainers.org.

 

National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 44,000 members of the athletic training profession. Visit www.nata.org.