When it comes to high school sports and the physical dangers that can come with them, one group is pushing for the passage of a bill that would require high school athletic departments to have a licensed athletic trainer on staff to properly treat and prevent sports injuries.

Senator Paul Sarlo recently reintroduced the legislation, which would require all high schools in New Jersey with inter-scholastic athletic programs to have at least one athletic trainer on staff.

Robb Rehberg, Past President of the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey, says in a typical high school an athletic trainer is involved with all sports and athletes from football to bowling.

The ATSNJ feels that in cases involving serious injury, including traumatic brain injuries, or for athletes with a pre-existing medical condition, immediate health care from a trained health care professional can mean the difference between life and death. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, assessment, treatment, and management of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions.

86 percent of high schools in New Jersey already have athletic trainers.

NJ Group Backs Trainers in High Schools