For 30 years, Athletic Trainer Mike Horan has been helping student-athletes through injuries, many of those years at Council Rock North High School in Pennsylvania.
And after three decades, he knows that one of the most important parts of his job is making the right decision when an athlete goes down.
“The first thing is to get out to them and even if you saw exactly what happened, you still ask, ‘What did you feel?’” Horan explained.
From there, he evaluates the injury, determines whether the athlete can safely leave the field and decides what additional care may be necessary.
But Horan's work starts long before an injury happens.
“Prevention is very important,” he said, explaining how he educates athletes about hydration, flexibility and addressing minor problems before they become more serious.
It's a responsibility shared by Athletic Trainers across the country, including Shan Barrett, who has spent 25 years at Pennsbury High School.
Barrett emphasized the importance of concussion assessment and making sure athletes are ready before returning to competition.
“We want to make sure athletes return safely to play and make sure their injury is completely healed and they’re able to take on their activity,” Barrett said.
For both Athletic Trainers, those decisions come from years of education, experience and a commitment to protecting student-athletes.
And while Horan recognizes that injuries are inevitable in sports, he hopes parents understand the value of having a trained healthcare professional there when something happens.
“They should have some level of comfort knowing we’re here to take care of their kids,” he said.
“Injuries are going to happen there’s nothing we can do, but ultimately once they are injured, we are here and we are trained to make the best decisions for their kids.”