EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is a guest post from Canton Athletic Trainer Kristen Aguiar, who is currently serving as Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts Secondary Schools Committee Chair. National Athletic Training Month (NATM) is held every March in order to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers.
The Hockomock League leads the way in many aspects of athletics across the state of Massachusetts, and Athletic Training is of course one of them. There are currently 13 ATs across the 12 schools-and we want to take this opportunity to highlight all of them and the amazing sports health care they provide to all of our athletes. March is National Athletic Training Month-this year’s theme is Champions in Healthcare.
Athletic Trainers are nationally certified through the BOC (Board of Certification) after completing an approved collegiate program. Many of us were in the Bachelor’s of Science model-but the profession has moved to a Master’s program model. We are required to also be licensed in the State of Massachusetts through the Department of Public Health. ATs are required to recertify every 2 years after completing 50 continuing education hours, as well as maintaining our ethical requirements and CPR/First Aid certification.
This year’s article is going to focus on the Athletic Trainer and Emergency situations at our events. Unfortunately the number of traumatic events is on the rise around the country, state, and the Hock has not been immune to this in the 24-25 academic year. One of the domains that ATs are well trained in is Critical Event Incident Management. We are taught how to integrate best practices into immediate and emergent care situations for the best possible outcomes.
One of the ways that ATs prepare for these events is to have an Emergency Action Plan. Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) are town, school, and even venue specific. These plans help delineate the steps that need to be taken in the event of an emergency. These plans are reviewed seasonally with coaches, and always after an event occurs to ensure that the highest quality care is provided. Within the EAP, the staff working the event will be given a responsibility. When the AT and AD are on site- they are ones running the show. This includes immediate care of the patient, calling 911, securing the area for ambulance/PD/FD arrival. All coaches in the state of Massachusetts are required by law to be certified in CPR and AED, and school athletics are required to have AEDs within 3 minutes of the event. Many of our Hock schools go well above and beyond that with each individual team carrying an AED daily as well as their basic medkit with first aid supplies.
There are many types of emergencies we can see during athletic events. The most common of course are orthopedic injuries- from fractured bones to ligament tears. Not every orthopedic injury requires emergent care but some that do are compound fractures (bone through the skin), joint dislocations, anything that might obstruct blood flow or nerves from properly functioning. Some other cases that will require activation of the EAP are allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), major lacerations, potential spinal cord injury, concussions with loss of consciousness, and worst case a cardiac arrest.
While we all hope to never have to see our athletes in distress we are always prepared. A couple of ATs shared some of their emergency moments and how it has made them a better AT:
Kristen Aguiar (Canton): Less than 2 months into my AT career I had a Friday afternoon full of home games happening simultaneously on the fields in Bellingham prior to a home football game. A visiting athlete sustained a head injury with laceration-and I had to call my first ambulance of my career. Once that scene was cleared- the day quickly went wild- I had 2 field hockey players collide and have significant concussions, while I was evaluating and once again activating EMS for one of them, a girls soccer goalie was in a collision that resulted in her having limited sensation down her left side. At this point EMS was on scene and we called for a Medflight. All 4 athletes were able to return to play that season, the soccer player sustained a lacerated liver that took quite some time to heal. I realized that day as an AT you “fall to your leveling of training” and having emergency plans in place makes scary scenes such as this ones that will have successful outcomes.
Christine Dundon (Foxboro): Being able to provide the highest level of care to two student-athletes after a collision during a soccer game this fall and performing an MIAA recommended Medial Timeout with officials and coaches prior to the game. My athlete fell to the ground and the situation changed very quickly. I had to activate my emergency action plan (EAP), initiate CPR and the use of an AED to provide lifesaving care. The athlete had the best possible outcome and I was able to watch him make a full return to sport this winter. The opposing schools athlete was cared for and transported as well out of precaution. Being able to manage both athletes in the situation was difficulty but felt I managed it best I could in the moment. I was awarded the Fall 2024 AT All-Star Award within the Mass General Brigham Athletic Training department as well as an honorary captain at a Revolution Soccer game with my athlete, his family and member of the community who assisted me the day of the incident.
Since this incident, I have made it a priority to perform the medial timeouts with opposing coaches and officials for the game to ensure everyone is on the same page. You never know when these events will happen but want to be prepared as much as you can.
This obviously was just this academic year and hits all us close to home. The Hockomock led
the state in doing the Medical Time outs prior to games. And it was received very positively by most involved, especially the referees who are just arriving to our campuses for 1 afternoon or evening.
Please take moment in the remaining days of March to thank your Athletic Trainer! The 13 ATs in the Hock are definitely Champions in Healthcare
Here are our current Hockomock Athletic Trainers!
Aaron Wolfe – Attleboro
Colorado Mesa University – BA Athletic Training and BA Exercise Science – 2000
Aaron joined the Hock in the fall of 2023.
Kristen Aguiar, MS, LAT, ATC – Canton
Springfield College, BS Athletic Training 2004
Ohio University, MS Athletic Administration 2012
Kristen is currently the Chair of the Secondary Schools Committee for the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM) and has been in Canton for 9 years.
Jen Edmunds, MS, LAT, ATC – Franklin
Wheaton College-BA in Psychobiology 2003
Bridgewater State University-MS in Physical Education/Concentration in Athletic Training
TJ as she is more commonly referred to has been with the Panthers for 19 years.
Christine Dundon, LAT, ATC – Foxboro
Springfield College, BS Athletic Training- 2019
Christine has more than filled Amy Leonard’s shoes taking the reins at Foxboro in a full time position this year. She is a Foxboro Alum as well.
Adam Bennett, MS, LAT, ATC – King Philip
Bridgewater State University, BS Athletic Training, 2014
Ohio University, MS Athletic Administration, 2018
Adam is a KP alum and has been with the Warriors since 2015.
Emma Dunlea, LAT, ATC- Mansfield
University of New Hampshire- BS- Athletic Training 2022
Emma is currently at Mansfield High School. She is contracted by Mass General Brigham. Emma is another Hock School product-having been a student-athlete at Sharon High School.
Ashley Desko, MS, LAT, ATC – Milford
Syracuse University- BS- Health and Exercise Science 2019
Merrimack College- MS- Athletic Training 2022
Ashley joined the Hock in the fall of 2022.
Jarrett Sorge, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS – North Attleboro
Bridgewater State University- BS in Athletic Training 2009
UCONN- MS Kinesiology 2014
Jarrett joined North in 2022.
Michelle Norman LAT, ATC- Oliver Ames
Merrimack College- BS-Athletic Training 2015.
Michelle joined the Hock last fall after spending a few years in the TVL with Norton High School.
Tanya Gallagher LAT, ATC- Stoughton
Lasell University- BS in Athletic Training 2004
Tanya came to Stoughton in 2021 after many years at Dover Sherborn.
Kris Coute LAT, ATC, LMT- Taunton
Bridgewater State (College) University 1993- BS- Athletic Training
Kris won the MSSADA Ando Athletic Trainer of the Year 2024 for all of her amazing contributions to Athletic Training over the past 31 years.
Maddie Merritt – Taunton