The St.
Bernards Sports Medicine program has received two grants from the Walmart
Foundation to help purchase equipment that will benefit school athletes in five
different school districts in Craighead County.
The
equipment is helping certified athletic trainers – who are placed in schools
full-time at no charge through St. Bernards Sports Medicine – as they work with
students taking part in school athletics in Jonesboro, Nettleton, Valley View,
Westside and Brookland.
A total of
$3,500 – $2,000 from Walmart Store No. 45 at 1815 East Highland Drive and
$1,500 from Sam’s Club, 2405 South Caraway Road – has been used to help
purchase vacuum splint kits and portable training tables for use by the
trainers. The portable tables are essential for side line treatments,
evaluations and therapeutic exercise. Use of the vacuum splints is considered a
simple, safe and effective method of emergency splinting of fracture extremities.
The funds
came through a Walmart Foundation “facility giving program,” with local stores having
some input on grants.
As part of
its commitment to giving back to the community, St. Bernards provides the
certified athletic trainers at no cost to the school districts. Trainers work on
site at the schools throughout the year with young athletes and are on hand for
practices as well as on the side lines during major sporting events.
Trainers are
at the schools every day, working closely with coaches to prevent injuries at
practices and helping treat athletes when necessary. They also coordinate care
that may be required by orthopedic and sports medicine physicians when
youngsters require emergency or other treatment for injuries.
The
equipment is in use this fall.