Redmond HS trainer attends youth sports safety summit

A Redmond High School athletic trainer is back from a youth sports summit in our nation’s capital, and bringing lessons that could help protect your kids.

That trainer is Cari Wood, who has been the head athletic trainer for 20 years at the school.

High school athletes suffer 2 million injuries a year, and trainers like Wood would like to reduce those numbers. She currently sits on the board of directors for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

At the summit, she and other trainers reinforced the safety in youth sports.

“Mostly things that cause sudden death in athletes such as, heat illnesses, head injuries, heart conditions, asthma and obviously concussions,” Wood said Wednesday.

Youth sports safety is a hot-button issue, and as a parent of a football player and cheerleader, Wood said as long as your child is being properly taken care of, you shouldn’t worry.

“As long as you know that somebody is on staff that is educated in emergency care and injuries, and you know that who’s taking care of your kids when they’re not near your care, that’s the best part,” Wood said.

Athletic Director and football Coach Nathan Stanley said it’s a relief to have Wood a part of the program.

“It’s one of those things where coaches can focus on coaching, and Cari works with the doctors and parents,” Stanley said.

She said her favorite part of the job is getting to build a connection with the kids.

“I feel like I’m a second mom to some of these kids,” Wood said. “Sometimes I see them more than their parents do, when they’re three-sport athletes. I see them every single day.”

That feeling is mutual, as many athletes have learned from her over the years.

“I definitely make sure that now if something is hurting or sore, I get it taken care of,” said Redmond High sophomore Monica Reed. “I have shin splints, so I always get those wrapped up and make sure I’m taking care of myself.”

“Just the comfort of having Cari around and knowing that she knows what’s she’s doing and all that,” said sophomore Levi Evans.

Wood even spoke with legislators in D.C. about a “Student Safety Bill of Rights” that would require high schools to follow certain safety standards, especially if they didn’t have access to an athletic trainer.

“Not all high schools can afford that, so that bill will help assure that their athletes are safe,” Wood said.

It’s something she’s strived to do at Redmond High.

“She has a connection with our athletic program that is completely and totally unique, and I can’t say how much we appreciate her,” Stanley said.

Last year, Redmond High was one of six schools nationally to receive the National Athletic Trainers’ Association “Safe Sports School Award” for its athletic training and sports medicine program.