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September 18, 2012
In today’s world of football the words injury, concussion and trauma have become as commonplace as punt, pass and kick.
But help is on the way for several Tri-parish schools that have their eyes on good health in the 2012 season.
Thibodaux Regional Medical Center’s Sports Medicine Center donated automatic external defibrillators (AED) to 15 schools across the area at a banquet last Tuesday at Fremin’s in Thibodaux.
An AED is a medical device resembling a school bag. It allows responders to give immediate assistance to either players or fans that have medical events at games or practices.
“We are hoping that what we do for you guys is going to be a benefit to your programs and to your students,” said Larry D’Antoni, TRMC Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Coordinator. “This is a gift that we are happily giving to you guys.”
According to medical websites, AEDs are useful in life threatening situations.
The small, lightweight piece of medical equipment is able to treat cardiac ailments through defibrillation, electrical therapy that halts arrhythmia, which allows one’s heart to regain its proper beating patterns.
This technology will be useful to medical professionals who need to make quick decisions if a player’s body is under duress after a big hit during a game.
Its use became more urgent after recent Louisiana legislation that asked schools to acquire AEDs when financially able.
“Our mission is simple: Provide quality sports medicine services and programs to athletes, coaches, parents and other individuals involved in athletics,” D’Antoni said. “This event tonight is a fine example of that mission. We’re happy to help you comply with the new Louisiana law regarding AEDs and high school athletic programs.”
Local football analyst Mike Detillier was the guest speaker at the dinner, which was attended by most of the coaches in the Tri-parish area.
In his speech, Detillier lauded the area’s coaches, players and trainers for the work that they do to make prep football special.
“I guarantee you about 95 percent of the big-time guys like the Tom Brady’s the Aaron Rodgers’ and the Drew Brees’ will bring up their high school coaches as being some of the most influential men in their life,” Detillier said. “A lot of times in the offseason, these guys will still go workout with their former coaches. … You guys here are sort of on the lower-level of the job, but you all are appreciated by those guys you coached years ago.”
Last Tuesday’s banquet may be the first in a series of contributions TRMC makes to local athletics.
As TRMC’s Sports Medicine department grows, D’Antoni said they would continue to give back to local schools.
“In the future, we will be doing more,” D’Antoni said.
He added that the program does a lot of its work right now to help football programs, but has ambition to further expand its services into other prep sports.
“We are a total program,” D’Antoni said. “We want to be an asset to you and a service to you in the future. Anything that we can do, give me some ideas and we’ll do what we can to get speakers to you to educate you about your coaching and we’re talking about both the male sports and the female sports. That’s our idea.”
The schools that were given AEDs at last Tuesday’s event were Thibodaux, Vandebilt, E.D. White, H.L. Bourgeois, Central Catholic, Central Lafourche, Ellender, Houma Christian, Lutcher, Covenant Christian Academy, Riverside Christian Academy, St. James, South Terrebonne, South Lafourche and Terrebonne.
Local NFL analyst Mike Detillier talks to the audience at a banquet this past week. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center donated AED’s to several Tri-parish schools, boosting the safety of our local athletes.
