National Center for Sports Safety and National Athletic Trainers’ Association Introduce
P.R.E.P.A.R.E., Which Covers Everything from Minor Injuries to Life-Threatening Situations

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., and DALLAS, Texas, March 8, 2004 – Each year, more than 775,000 children under age 14 are treated in emergency rooms for sports-related injuries, reports the American College of Sports Medicine. Nearly half of these injuries were preventable, yet according to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, fewer than 10 percent of the 2.5 million volunteer coaches and 33 percent of the interscholastic coaches have any type of coaching education.

To raise the national standards of coaches responsible for the safety and well-being of millions of young athletes, the National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS), in conjunction with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), is launching P.R.E.P.A.R.E. – a comprehensive, online sports safety course for coaches, particularly volunteer moms and dads, who need basic sports safety education.

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. covers everything from minor injuries, such as blisters, nose bleeds and ankle sprains, to life-threatening situations, including head and neck injuries. The course, which is available online at www.SportsSafety.org, costs $28 and takes approximately three hours to complete. Participants learn to P – Pre-plan, in case of emergencies; R – Recognize emergencies; E – Emergency Plan (pinpoint the steps needed to be taken once an emergency has occurred); P – Principles of First Aid (learn the basic first aid techniques every coach should know); A – ABCs (become familiar with airway breathing and circulation – the basic steps of CPR); R – Return to Play (determine when it is safe for an injured athlete to return to play); and E – Enjoy (encourage young athletes to get back into the game). After completing the course, each coach will receive a sports safety patch and a certificate.

“We believe parents with active children will be heartened to know that P.R.E.P.A.R.E. exists,” says Lawrence J. Lemak, M.D., founder of the NCSS. “Most mothers and fathers wouldn’t drop their children off at the local swimming pool without a certified lifeguard on duty. Why shouldn’t their children receive the same protection during practice or while competing in a game? At a sports facility, P.R.E.P.A.R.E. provides coaches with emergency planning and recognition guidelines which will allow them to respond appropriately until professional help arrives.”

“Prevention of injuries is always key, and certified athletic trainers (ATCs) believe that parents and coaches need to be educated on how to help young athletes prevent injuries on and off the field," says certified athletic trainer Al Green, MEd., ATC, EMT, who was a major contributor to the development of the course.

"P.R.E.P.A.R.E. will give volunteer coaches the confidence they need to handle a wide variety of situations, including possibly saving some lives. It's not practical to have qualified medical personnel at each youth sports practice and game. That's why a program like this is so important." The launch of P.R.E.P.A.R.E. in March coincides with National Athletic Training Month. The theme this year is "Injury Treatment: Early Care Speeds Recovery."

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. focuses on the basics of: emergency planning; heat and cold illnesses; emergency recognition; medical considerations; principles of first aid; head, neck and facial injuries; and warm-up and cool down. The flexibility of online learning allows participants to complete the course at their own pace. The NCSS also is establishing a network of health care professionals, including physicians and certified athletic trainers, who can teach the hands-on course in a group setting classroom.

Parents should check with youth league organizers to see if the coaching staff is properly trained in sports safety. If not the NCSS and NATA suggest the following:

• Coaches should be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If this is not the case, a health committee of parents, trained in first aid and CPR, should be organized to provide basic coverage at practices and games.
• An emergency plan should be developed in conjunction with the organization’s staff, coaches, facility director and local emergency medical personnel, and communicated to all parents during a pre-season meeting.
• A fully-stocked first aid kit should be accessible during all practices and games. Included in the kit should be up-to-date medical histories of each player, as well as their parents’ contact information.
• One of the ways to prevent heat illness in athletes is to be properly hydrated. Water is an adequate beverage for exercise that lasts less than 45-50 minutes. Otherwise, a sports drink should be provided.

The P.R.E.P.A.R.E. course idea was first conceived during the “Setting the Standard” Summit hosted by the NCSS in August 2002. Representatives from many of the nation’s leading medical, safety and sports organizations attended, including NATA, American College of Sports Medicine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, Lakeshore Foundation, U.S. Soccer Federation and Pop Warner.

Jon Butler, executive director for Pop Warner, supports the new course guidelines. “It's vital that everyone working with young athletes knows how to deal with medical conditions and emergencies,” he says. “P.R.E.P.A.R.E. is an excellent way to gain that knowledge. It's easily accessible and comprehensive, and best of all, concise, to insure maximum learning in minimum time."

About the NCSS and Lawrence J. Lemak, M.D.:
The NCSS is a non-profit organization founded to promote the importance of injury prevention and safety on all levels of youth sports through education and research. www.SportsSafety.org. NCSS, 1222 14th Avenue South, Ste. 201, Birmingham, AL 35205, 877-900-NCSS; 205-930-7269 (fax).

Dr. Lemak is a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and has been involved with sports medicine and taking care of athletes for nearly 30 years. He founded NCSS in 2001. Lemak serves as medical director for NFL Europe, Major League Soccer, the PGA, Auburn University and numerous other schools and teams. His sports safety expertise has been called on by many organizations including the NFL Youth Development Team, National Council for Youth Sports, American Red Cross, Character Counts-Josephson Institute of Ethics, among others.

About the NATA:
Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are unique health care providers who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses that occur to athletes and the physically active. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports the 30,000 members of the athletic training profession through education and research. www.nata.org. NATA, 2952 Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75247, 214.637.6282; 214.637.2206 (fax).

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