Dear Parents and Students:
This letter is to inform you of the healthcare available to your son or daughter while participating in Wilton High School athletics, and to highlight important policies and procedures regarding athletic related injuries.
As a member of the Athletic Department, Wilton High School employs Eric Bailey MSEd, ATC, CSCS. Eric is a certified athletic trainer who is licensed in Connecticut. He specializes in prevention, recognition, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic related injuries.
The Wilton High School Athletic Training room is located on the second floor across from the locker rooms near the entrance to the field house. The Athletic Training Room is open at 2:30pm, Monday through Friday, and only for game days on Saturdays. The first hour/hour and a half is dedicated to preparing student athletes for games and practices, as well as the evaluation of new injuries. All potential head injuries and/or concussions will be seen/evaluated after the basic treatments and evaluations have been completed to allow for full one-on-one interaction between the athlete and the athletic trainer. This will then be followed by on-site care with the teams at home competitions and practices.
Should your son or daughter sustain an injury while participating in Wilton High School athletics, he/she must report the injury to the trainer as soon as possible. If the injury should require the attention of a physician, they can schedule an orthopedic appointment, with parental consent, typically within 24 to 48 hours of the initial consultation. The Wilton High School team physician is Dr. T. Jay Kleeman with Coastal Orthopedics.
Once your son or daughter sees a licensed healthcare professional for any reason, he/she must turn in to the trainer any written clearance to participate in athletics from that licensed healthcare professional before he/she is allowed to participate. Licensed healthcare professionals include, but are not limited to, physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and chiropractors.
In regards to concussion care and management, Wilton High School athletics follows in accordance with Public Act No. 10-62, An Act Concerning Student Athletes And Concussions.
A. All coaches must complete a training course regarding concussions and head injuries prior to the start of their coaching season each school year.
B. Any student athlete who (A) is observed to exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion following an observed or suspected blow to the head or body, or (B) is diagnosed with a concussion, regardless of when such concussion or head injury may have occurred will immediately be removed from participating in any intramural or interscholastic athletic activity. The student athlete will not be permitted to participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, until such athlete receives written clearance to participate in such supervised team activities involving physical exertion from a licensed healthcare professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.
C. For return to athletics in any capacity, the athlete must (1) hand in a written clearance note from a healthcare professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and (2) no longer exhibit signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion at rest OR with exertion. In order to determine if an athlete is no longer symptomatic with exertion, he/she must complete a six day return to play protocol.
D. This protocol is adopted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and can be found in Wilton High School’s Athletic Handbook as well as the CIAC website. One tool that may be helpful in determining when an athlete is ready to return to play following a head injury is neurocognitive testing, such as ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). In order for ImPACT to be utilized at its best, a baseline test should be conducted. Wilton High School does not offer ImPACT testing, however if you wish for your son or daughter to have a baseline ImPACT test prior to the start of his/her sport’s season, we highly encourage you to consult with your physician, as numerous healthcare professionals throughout the area are now offering this resource.
Thank you for your time. We look forward to caring for your student athlete.
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