Eighteen high school students learned about athletic training during a two-day workshop hosted by the TU Athletic Training program in June.

Certified athletic trainers instructed students in injury prevention, taping and wrapping, wound care, environmental conditions, and common injuries of the foot, ankle, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Students were certified by the American Red Cross in sport safety training, which includes CPR, first aid and use of an automated external defibrillator.

"Many of the students were already working with their schools' teams," said Robin Ploeger, curriculum director for the Athletic Training program. "Now these students have a solid foundation so that they can help prevent injuries, recognize serious injuries, apply immediate care and help someone during an emergency. The students loved the hands-on labs and the opportunity to learn different ways to tape and learn signs and symptoms of injuries."

Most students were interested in a career in sports medicine but were not aware of the extent of a certified athletic trainer's responsibilities or the preparation they would need for a career in this field.

"Acquainting students with the profession of athletic training and giving them the opportunity to come to the TU campus was a recruiting effort for us," Ploeger said. "We were also able to talk about preparing for a career in athletic training."

The workshop will be an annual TU event.