FARMINGTON — Franklin Memorial Hospital’s certified athletic trainers are celebrating National Athletic Training Month in March. They include Jeremy Starbird, ATC, and Dan Waterman, ATC.

“National Athletic Training Month was established so that we could do a better job of educating the public about our profession and our quality and level of care,” said Waterman. “We want people to know that athletic trainers are integral members of the medical or athletic health care team and work hand in hand with physicians and other health personnel.”

Waterman provides his expertise to athletes at Mt. Blue High School, while Starbird works with Mt. Abram and Spruce Mountain High Schools.

Each provides game and practice coverage, which enables them to provide immediate medical attention when an athlete is injured, as well as a role in the rehabilitation and decision making associated with the athlete’s care. ATCs also provide guidance and assistance to coaches during preseason conditioning and throughout the season.

During the weekly Sports Medicine Clinic one of the athletic trainers is there along with Dr. Thomas Pulling and Heather Patterson, PT, to round out the health care team that evaluates and treats high school, college, and recreational athletes. The clinic takes place every Tuesday morning starting at 8 a.m. at Franklin Health Orthopaedics.

During the course of a school year, Waterman and Starbird collectively provide about 1,300 treatments for athletes who have been injured or are experiencing pain.

They manage the care of injuries such as ankle sprains, concussions, knee injuries, and fractures while coordinating treatments with the rest of the health care team (primary care physicians, emergency department providers, physical therapists, and specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons, podiatrists, chiropractors, and dietitians).

The ATCs said that injury rates could be reduced if athletes took appropriate preventative action, such as: wearing appropriate protective gear, equipment, and footwear; doing a proper warm up before exercise; and following a regular conditioning program during the off-season.