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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A delegation from the Texas State Athletic Trainers' |
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Association is gathering in Austin on March 21, 2013, for the |
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association's Legislative Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, There are more than 2,900 athletic trainers in the |
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State of Texas who are licensed by the state's Advisory Board of |
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Athletic Trainers and meet specific standards of education, ethics, |
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and professionalism; and |
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WHEREAS, Athletic trainers work with the consent of a |
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physician or other health care provider to manage the prevention, |
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evaluation, and treatment of sports-related injuries and illnesses |
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as well as the physical rehabilitation of patients; they attend to |
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all individuals in athletic environments, including athletes, |
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coaches, officials, workers, and fans, and are widely respected for |
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the quality of care that they offer; and |
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WHEREAS, The ability to intervene quickly in a medical crisis |
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can be of critical importance, as early evaluation and treatment |
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have been shown to reduce recovery time and decrease complications |
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in the event of a severe injury, and in the past year alone, a number |
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of Texas licensed athletic trainers distinguished themselves by |
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reacting to emergency situations and initiating life-saving |
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medical procedures; and |
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WHEREAS, During fall football practice at the University of |
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Houston in 2012, two defensive backs collided while attempting to |
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intercept a pass; one of the athletes did not get up after the |
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impact and was immediately attended to by head athletic trainer |
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Michael O'Shea; recognizing the seriousness of the player's |
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symptoms, Mr. O'Shea promptly stabilized him and called for an |
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ambulance; the athlete was later diagnosed with a torn inferior |
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vena cava, a condition that would have resulted in death had |
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treatment been delayed; and |
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WHEREAS, At a 2012 varsity football game at James E. Rudder |
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High School in Bryan, an athlete collapsed while coming off of the |
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field; athletic trainers James Woodall and Michael Lozano, who |
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rushed to the player's aid, found that the athlete was experiencing |
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agonal breathing, a life-threatening condition; Mr. Lozano |
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stabilized the athlete's head and neck while Mr. Woodall began |
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chest compressions before emergency medical services arrived to |
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administer shocks with an automatic external defibrillator (AED); |
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the athlete was later diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a heart |
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rhythm disorder that could have been fatal if not for the quick |
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actions of Mr. Lozano and Mr. Woodall; and |
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WHEREAS, During a 2012 Vista Ridge High School football game |
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in Leander, a fan collapsed in the stands; athletic trainer Michael |
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Henry immediately called for the school's AED, which he used to |
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administer two shocks that caused the man to regain his vital signs; |
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the fan had a history of heart problems and, without the prompt |
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response of Mr. Henry and other bystanders, he may not have |
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survived; and |
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WHEREAS, After a girls' basketball playoff game at Glenda |
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Dawson High School in Pearland on the night of February 19, 2013, |
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athletic trainer Monica Jackson was informed that a man had fallen |
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in the bleachers; she found the man lying on a bench, and a doctor |
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assessing him stated that he could detect no pulse; while holding |
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the man's head as the doctor began performing CPR, she sent a |
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bystander to retrieve the school's AED, and the shock successfully |
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restored the man's pulse; thanks to Ms. Jackson's knowledge and |
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composure, the man survived to be taken to the hospital by |
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paramedics; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to their work on the sidelines, athletic |
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trainers have played an instrumental role in shaping public policy |
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related to the prevention of traumatic brain injuries among student |
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athletes; in 2011, the Texas State Athletic Trainers' Association |
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strongly supported House Bill 2038, named "Natasha's Law" in honor |
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of Natasha Helmick, whose soccer career was cut short after she |
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suffered multiple concussions; this landmark piece of legislation, |
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which took effect in June 2011, requires Texas schools to establish |
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a protocol on how to deal with players suspected of sustaining a |
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concussion; and |
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WHEREAS, All involved in sports and recreational activities |
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benefit greatly from the presence of licensed athletic trainers, |
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whose expertise can make the difference in life-threatening |
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emergencies, and their contributions and ongoing efforts are indeed |
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deserving of our support and gratitude; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 21, 2013, as Texas State |
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Athletic Trainers' Association Legislative Day at the State Capitol |
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and commend athletic trainers Michael O'Shea, James Woodall, |
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Michael Lozano, Michael Henry, and Monica Jackson for their |
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actions; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the association and the trainers as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |