Jamestown High School (JHS) and Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for the Blue Jay athletics program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that meet the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.

“JHS is honored to receive this recognition,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Lech. “We remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and games. We are grateful for the partnership with JRMC which makes this possible.”

JRMC provides athletic training services to more than 400 JHS athletes. It has served as the official sports medicine team of the Blue Jays for more than a decade.

“Safety in sports helps athletes accomplish their 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,” Lech said.

This is the first year JHS has received this award.

SAFE SPORTS

“An achievement like this is an honor,” said JRMC President & CEO Mike Delfs. “It is another example of how JRMC is a destination for care in the region.”

“The health and safety of student athletes is critical as it has both immediate and long-term effects,” said NATA President Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC. “The National Athletic Trainers’ Association created the ‘Safe Sports School Award’ to recognize and champion schools nationwide that are committed to safety in sports. We are proud to see the list of award recipients grow exponentially each year as schools see the immense value in holding themselves to best practices and policies that ensure a high standard of athlete care.”

To achieve Safe Sports 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
  • ensure athletes and parents receive education about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

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