Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS

[Stephanie Kuzydym @stephkuzy]

Medical emergencies happened three times in about 24 hours this weekend in Arkansas high school sports.

And we know because the head of the state AT association highlighted it. It’s not an Arkansas problem. It’s a microcosm of what happens in sports nationally. #SaferSidelines

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

@mnhopper1s @stephkuzy @NATA1950 @BOCATC @SWATAD6

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

This week, Arkansas athletic trainers responded to emergencies on the sidelines. Per reports, everyone in each situation is doing well and good outcomes are expected! Their work deserves recognition, as does the care ATs provide every day across our state.

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

Parents and school leaders: who is taking care of your athletes and fans. If it’s not athletic trainers, let’s talk.

[Stephanie Kuzydym @stephkuzy]

A save in Van Buren, Arkansas💛 #SaferSidelines

[James Spann @spann]

I responded to a troll last night while we were producing WeatherBrains; I deleted the post and wanted to be sure it was written in a better, more accurate way.

People have indeed died and suffered injuries from lightning strikes during organized sports/football events. Some examples...

*An Ole Miss coach and two ABC-TV employees were stuck by lightning at Bryant Denny Stadium in 1994. Mississippi linebacker coach Mike Grant was burned during a thunderstorm; the lightning went through his headset and into the transmitter attached to his belt.

*During the 1991 U.S. Open (Hazeltine National, MN) a bolt struck a tree by the 11th hole where spectators were sheltering, killing one spectator and injuring five others.

*2012 Pocono Raceway (PA): Shortly after a NASCAR race was called due to rain, lightning struck the grandstand parking area, killing one spectator and injuring nine others.

*Minutes after the conclusion of an NFL game in 2014 between the Packers and Buccaneers in Tampa, a lightning strike hit the stadium grounds/parking area, injuring seven people and sending them to the hospital.

*September 1970 (Gibbs High School, FL): A lightning bolt struck directly into an offensive huddle on an open field during practice under skies where rain hadn't yet started falling. It killed two players and injured several others, temporarily paralyzing another teammate.

People drove without seatbelts for 60 years too. Surviving pure luck doesn't make an open metal stadium safe from 300 million volts of electricity.

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

@mnhopper1s @mjcatc @HennesseyChad What an interesting take.. I once had a disagreement with 3 officials at a middle school soccer game over lightning. One thought it was 8 miles, one thought it was 6, and one thought it was 4. The actually policy in Arkansas? 10 miles.

[Luke Matheson @LukeMatheson]

The Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association is calling for greater accountability and consistent enforcement of student-athlete safety requirements amid growing concerns that some high school athletic programs are not following the same rules.

https://t.co/DGCYOdYLxL - #ArkVarsity #ArPreps

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

@stephkuzy I wish I did.. I know some schools that are following them or at least I’ve seen some stuff on social media. But it’s likely a large number that are not even monitoring the WBGT. And that number is hard to come by.

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

@stephkuzy President of our state association here. This is the first public notice but 3-4 others have resigned this year due to issues related coaches and admin overriding medical authority. Mostly around wet bulb policy and return to play decisions.

[Luke Matheson @LukeMatheson]

There probably aren’t any Arkansas high school football coaches who would argue against protecting kids from dangerous heat.

That’s not really the argument that is currently ongoing.

The argument some coaches and school administrators are making privately is whether the Arkansas Activities Association’s Wet Bulb Globe Temperature guidelines have gone too far — and whether everybody is actually playing by the same rules.

https://t.co/Pth2MFvOow - #arpreps #arkvarsity

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

@mnhopper1s @MCHS_SportsMed @LukeMatheson @dbyrd_atc We have had many hundred plus degree days here in Arkansas this year. I’ve not been to one varsity football game this year where the WBGT has been over 86 at kickoff. Middle school games, yes it’s likely too hot to play but Friday night Football will likely be unaffected.

[Stephanie Kuzydym @stephkuzy]

Things are heating up in Arkansas high school sports medicine & we’re not talking about it being 95° there today.

Resignation email by the athletic trainer about coaches allegedly ignoring medical decisions ⬇️
#SaferSidelines

[FloTrack @FloTrack]

JOSH KERR OBLITERATES THE WORLD RECORD! 🤯

With the London crowd ROARING him home, Josh Kerr SMASHES the world record with a stunning 3:42.66.

🎥 Watch the full #LondonDL LIVE on FloTrack.

FloTrack's #DiamondLeague coverage presented by @on_running and @FleetFeetSports

[Arkansas Children's @archildrens]

Keeping student-athletes safe starts with education! 🏈⚽🏀

Last week, Arkansas Children’s Sports Medicine and Heart Institute teams joined the UCA Coaches Clinic to provide state-required training on concussions, heat illness, sudden cardiac arrest and communicable diseases.

[Arkansas Children's @archildrens]

Preparation saves lives. 🏈🚑

Arkansas Children’s athletic trainers recently came together for emergency response training to strengthen their readiness before the upcoming sports season.

[Tony Castricone @Castricone]

A 2-star QB scrambling for potentially the national-championship-winning touchdown on 4th down in his hometown against his hometown team after winning the Heisman for the most losing program of all time while his mother with MS screams for joy from her seat is possibly the limit of how good sports can get

[Stephanie Kuzydym @stephkuzy]

96 seconds to first shock?

This is why you simulate.

96 seconds.

This is why you say, 'We're prepared for not if, but when.'

96 seconds.

This is why drop-to-shock is stressed as three minutes or less. Because it CAN save a life.

96 seconds.

This is #SaferSidelines.

[Cody Walker, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS @codyrunner]

@KATVNews @stephkuzy unfortunately another one for your database. There is game film circulating that shows mismanagement of a head injury. Hope you will report on this.