Preface

Certified athletic trainers are health care professionals who are experts in injury prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciplines. Athletic trainers have been recognized by the American Medical Association as allied health care professionals since the early 1990s. To be eligible for board certification, athletic training students must graduate from an accredited undergraduate or graduate athletic training curriculum, which consists of course work and clinical experience in several areas, including assessment and evaluation, acute care, general medical conditions, and pathology of injury and illness. Athletic trainers must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program. In addition to board certification, many states regulate the athletic training profession through licensure, registration, or certification.

One of the most critical components of being an athletic trainer is the ability to provide appropriate care to a suddenly injured or ill athlete. Emergency Care in Athletic Training is a specialized textbook that addresses the specific educational needs of athletic training students and certified athletic trainers who are preparing to handle emergency medical situations in all areas of athletics.

Until recently, many athletic training educators have had to rely on general first aid materials that do not adequately address the needs of their programs. The authors of this textbook have stepped up to fulfill the growing need for more dynamic material that focuses on providing immediate medical care in athletics. Emergency Care in Athletic Training is written specifically for athletic trainers, athletic training students, and other sports medicine professionals focusing on the skills, knowledge, practice, and preparation needed to handle athletic emergency situations. Special features, such as the “Emergency Situations” that begin every chapter, help students use critical thinking skills by providing them with real-world examples. Students can see how well they responded by checking the resolution in the “Emergency Action” section at the end of the chapter. Additional case studies at the end of each chapter help students work through emergency care problems. Students can readily review the chapter material with the “Chapter Highlights” and test themselves on their comprehension with end-of-chapter quizzes.

Emergency Care in Athletic Training is a textbook that will help instruct athletic training students and athletic trainers about the emergency situations they will inevitably face throughout their careers. Athletic training educators and certified athletic trainers will now have access to the essential resource they need to address all athletic emergencies.