National Athletic Training Month - Celebrating Area Athletic Trainers
Doug Calhoun
Ashland Beacon
Denny Kellington is a name that is rather unrecognizable to most of us, yet he has received votes for MVP of the National Football League for this year. Denny Kellington is one of the Buffalo Bills’ assistant athletic trainers. He was one of several people surrounding Damar Hamlin on the field on January 2 of this year when a nation held its collective breath and uttered collective prayers for the life of Hamlin. Denny Kellington is credited with administering proper CPR to Hamlin after he collapsed following a routine tackle. Without Kellington’s training and expertise as a certified athletic trainer, many believe that Damar Hamlin would not have survived cardiac arrest.
March is National Athletic Training Month and gives us an opportunity to recognize, thank, and celebrate these essential healthcare providers. Our area is blessed with schools and healthcare organizations that recognize the importance of certified athletic trainers as an integral part of their athletic programs. According to Andy Gilliland, MD, sports medicine physician, “The community of Athletic Training in our Tri-State region is special. Our region benefits from their shared knowledge and passion with respect to improving outcomes. They serve our community as first responders, leaders, and mentors. They are the spear point to a very large population-based health initiative being driven by our local hospitals such as King’s Daughters Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital.”
Our athletic trainers not only serve athletes during athletic practices and competitions but are often the liaison between the athlete and sports medicine specialists at our local hospitals. Further, they frequently serve the athlete through education, therapy, mentoring, and even counseling. According to veteran West Carter High School Athletic Trainer Meredith Calhoun, “The most rewarding aspect of my position is celebrating the return of an injured athlete back to playing the sport they love. When an athlete returns to the field or court and I catch a glance from them letting me know all is well, I can get a little emotional.” The athletic trainer also considers other stakeholders in the athlete’s care. Calhoun added, “I am always mindful of the athlete’s best interest above all, but I also empathize with the athlete’s parents/guardians, the coaching staff and the athlete’s teammates. Ultimately, my goal is to treat each athlete with professional care and get them ready to return to play as quickly and safely as possible.”
Dr.Gilliland works closely with many of our area’s athletic trainers and recognizes the quality and professionalism they exhibit. “I have always been impressed with the diagnostic capabilities of certified athletic trainers. They are on par with advanced level allied health professionals. This goes beyond treating musculoskeletal injuries. Their training is broad, and for that knowledge base to be in direct contact with our student athlete population on a daily basis is an invaluable resource.”
The range of our athletic training network spans hundreds of miles and dozens of schools from Johnson County to Rowan County, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. They serve athletes from middle school ages through collegiate levels. We are truly fortunate to have such a rich network of capable people protecting our kids. It is a rarity for such a rural area to have such a resource. This is a credit to our community and its schools embracing the athletic training philosophy.
The chances of any of our student athletes facing a situation like Damar Hamlin are statistically slight. But, there is comfort in knowing that athletic trainers are prepared for emergency situations as well as the more common types of injuries our hard-working student athletes may face. Damar Hamlin was fortunate that athletic trainer Denny Kellington was prepared and present. The Damar Hamlin moment has already been etched in many sports fans’ memories. Hamlin had his Denny Kellington. Our student athletes have their qualified, skilled athletic trainers there to serve them. Throughout March as well as the rest of the year, we are thankful for the service of our athletic trainers.