The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recently announced that Christopher Columbus High School was chosen as a “Safe Sports School 1st Team.” Columbus is one of only two high schools in Florida that have been honored with the recognition.
This honor not only acknowledges the vital work of the Columbus Athletic Training Department, led by Br. Herb Baker and his assistant Pablo Riera, ’05, (both certified trainers), but positions the school as a leader in sports safety and a community concerned with its student athletes and their care.
“We received the award because we offer an excellent athletic training facility that is well equipped to take care of students both physically and mentally,” said Br. Herb, who has served Columbus as athletic trainer since 1991. “We also have a very good medical staff in place with the collaboration of Dr. Joe Fernandez, chief of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at Baptist Hospital.”
Dr. Joe oversees the medical needs of all the Columbus athletic teams and often is in the training room on Saturdays to tend to them. The training room offers several treatment tables, muscle stimulators, ultrasound machines, whirlpools, bicycles, treadmills, game ready machines, and portable water tanks. An AED machine for electric shock to the heart also is found there and Br. Herb is happy to report he never had the need to use it.
In addition, student rehabilitation also takes place in the school’s new Bernhardt Wellness Center with the collaboration Josh Cantor who supervises that facility.
“We act as the first responders here. If there is ever an injury, we are there to treat and evaluate them. Often times we eliminate the student’s need to go elsewhere for expensive medical services” said Br. Herb.
Students say they like going to the training room before games to prepare themselves. They like the family environment and the care provided to them by the trainers.
For more information about NATA visit <http://athletictrainers.org>.
