A powerful call for change echoed through the Howard County Board of Education meeting as student athletes passionately advocated for full-time athletic trainers in all high schools. The urgency of their plea was underscored by a tragic incident at Hammond High School, where a student suffered a cardiac arrest during basketball practice and was left untreated for 30 minutes, resulting in life-altering consequences.

Grace Dijarnett, a multi-sport athlete from Appleton High School, highlighted the dire need for on-site medical professionals, stating, “For $1,100,000, just 0.1% of the total budget, every high school could have access to an athletic trainer.” She emphasized that only 50% of athletes in Howard County currently have access to trainers, despite alarming statistics showing that 90% of student athletes experience injuries.

Gavin Falcone, a sophomore at Longreach High School, echoed these sentiments, noting that the current system, which relies on a limited number of trainers spread across multiple schools, is inadequate and unsafe. “We only have 7 full-time athletic trainers for 13 high schools,” he said, stressing that this is a matter of student safety, not just funding.

The students' testimonies painted a stark picture of the risks involved in sports without proper medical oversight. They recounted personal experiences of injuries and near-misses, emphasizing that the absence of trainers can lead to devastating outcomes. “Imagine if we didn’t have an athletic trainer,” Falcone warned, referencing a recent incident where a player was left unconscious on the field.

Riana Mosseri, another student advocate, pointed out that the lack of consistent trainer presence undermines trust and emotional safety among athletes. “If trainers are only around inconsistently, we lose their trust,” she said, highlighting the psychological impact of inadequate medical support.

The students urged the board to prioritize the hiring of full-time athletic trainers, drawing comparisons to neighboring counties that have already made this commitment. “Counties like Montgomery and Anne Arundel have implemented full-time trainers. Why not Howard County?” asked Falcone.

As the meeting concluded, the message was clear: the safety of student athletes must be a top priority. The students’ passionate appeals serve as a reminder that investing in athletic trainers is not just a budgetary decision, but a crucial step in safeguarding the health and well-being of young athletes in Howard County.