By Eric Nussbaum, MEd, LAT, ATC – Athletic Trainer UOA

Earlier this year, Damar Hamlin, a defensive back for the Buffalo Bills collapsed during a game from cardiac arrest. An athletic trainer (AT or ATC) who was on the scene initiated an emergency action plan, providing CPR and saving Hamlin’s life. This injury highlighted the significance of athletic trainers and the role they play in helping athletes.  

Thankfully, the Hamlin situation is not the norm, but the value of the ATC is often unappreciated. How many times have you heard statements such as, “Do we really need an ATC?” “They are too expensive and all they really do is sit there.” “Physical Therapists (PTs) are profit, ATs are overhead.” Those statements are likely from individuals who don’t fully appreciate or understand the job ATCs do every single day. Hamlin makes the news, but the high school athlete with the ruptured spleen, the field hockey athlete with an eating disorder, or the concussed athlete who says they are OK and ready to return, while still symptomatic, do not make headlines…until they do. Most ATCs have been humble and do not like to highlight what they do every day. It’s much more than band aides, water and ankle tape jobs. As athletic trainers, you know this to be true, but many others don’t know the value of an AT. 

How can you share your value? 

• Stay up to date with your record keeping. Make monthly summaries and share them with your principals, athletic director, superintendent and supervising physician. Highlight the number of significant injuries (fractures, sprains, strains and surgeries), of athletes you are seeing each day. The value of good record keeping goes beyond state mandate and covers you liability-wise. It serves as a valuable educational tool that may be used to make changes or re-enforce recommendations. 
• Post your monthly injury treatment totals on a board that hangs outside your office with a running total so others can see what you do. 
• Never turn down an opportunity to speak with parents. Parents go to school board meetings and they vote.
• Encourage parents of athletes you have helped to write a testimonial and send it to your supervisor. 

In closing, the incident involving Damar Hamlin’s collapse has highlighted the irreplaceable role athletic trainers play in the well-being of athletes. Although their significance is sometimes overlooked, ATCs are the unsung heroes who tackle diverse health concerns faced by athletes daily, from high school to professional levels. By adopting practices like meticulous record-keeping, showcasing injury treatment data, and engaging with parents and decision-makers, ATCs can effectively convey the depth of their contributions, revealing the true essence of their vital presence in the world of sports healthcare.