Here is why what I do is important:

I heard a little of this on the news, but I'm reposting this article from Scott's (my former athletic training program director) blog.

Originally posted in ESPN's Outside the Lines:

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL DEATHS
Tad Gormley

For 16-year-old Jaquan Waller, his passion for football ended in tragedy last month. After just two carries in a high school football game, the junior running back from Greenville, North Carolina collapsed on the sideline and was declared brain dead the following morning. This after being cleared to play following a head injury in practice two days prior. Waller died from complications of second impact syndrome (SIS), when a second concussion occurs before the first one has completely healed. Sunday on Outside the Lines, David Amber examines the need for Certified Athletic Trainers to protect high school football players.

Also from ESPN: Outside the Lines: Second Impact Syndrome

I had the exact same thoughts as Scott but he put it much better, so I'm copying his words:

The best comment I hear in this video was the one at the end - If you can't afford to have a certified athletic trainer on site then you shouldn't have the sport." We would not allow the players to participate if we could not afford helmets - would we?

If we "the taxpayer" are going to pay JaQuan Waller's mother a couple million dollars (like she deserves yet will not be sufficient to replace her son) then we could have paid 35 years of an athletic trainer's salary at $57,000 per year. And just imagine, that ATC would be on site for other injuries also.

I wish I could have this video on a constant loop in my athletic training room. With every kid that I keep out of practice for a head injury, no matter how large or small, I get the same whining and begging and bargaining. Then, as they pout, I explain Second Impact Syndrome (the short, scary version) and what do I get? A blank stare. Blink. Blink blink blink. Blink. It might as well be Bambi staring into the headlights of an oncoming Buick.

"So can I play tomorrow then?"

"No."

It's still blowing my mind that a FIRST RESPONDER was given the power to return an athlete to play at all - ESPECIALLY after a head injury. WTF?