District outlines athletic‑trainer coverage, concussion protocols and heat‑safety steps

Burlington school athletic staff told the School Committee they maintain two full‑time athletic trainers and a set of preventive policies that include baseline concussion testing, emergency action plans and on‑site AEDs.

Sean (athletics staff) and athletic trainers Kelly Melville and Abby Sleeper described a layered approach to sports medicine. “We have 3 AEDs that travel with us and will go to any of the games or practices that we're at,” Kelly Melville said. She explained the district uses baseline concussion testing and a new FDA‑approved phone‑based tool called Sway for baseline testing: “We do baseline testing…we just switched to Sway, which is an FDA approved medical device on their phone.”

The nut graf: Staff emphasized prevention, routine monitoring and communication with families and coaches as central to reducing catastrophic events. Trainers described standing protocols for notification and follow‑up, coordination with nursing staff and outside athletic trainers at away contests, and the use of a heat‑monitoring system to alter practices when conditions become hazardous.

Key points covered in committee discussion: - Staffing and coverage: Athletic staff said two full‑time trainers allow coverage of varsity games and many practices but acknowledged not every away game or neighboring school has an athletic trainer on site. Sean said six league schools lack a full‑time trainer, so Burlington’s staff sometimes provide remote support to other sites. - Concussion policy and testing: Trainers said concussions are largely a clinical diagnosis that relies on symptom reporting, so the district combines sideline evaluation, medical history review and baseline testing. “Concussions…rely on self reporting for the most part,” Kelly Melville said, noting the value of baseline comparisons for return‑to‑play decisions. - Heat and turf safety: The trainers described a graduated practice policy tied to monitored environmental conditions and equipment use, including the option to move practices to grass, to change practice times, or to limit wearing pads when temperatures are high. For heat illness they said they carry a “polar pod,” an insulated cooling bag used with ice to rapidly reduce body temperature. - Family communication: Staff use ParentSquare for routine messages but said urgent concerns trigger immediate phone calls. Trainers emphasized a case‑by‑case conversation between staff, parents, coaches and medical providers for return‑to‑play choices.

Next steps and resources: Committee members asked whether more AEDs or additional equipment were needed for remote town fields; staff said they are exploring more AED access in town fields and would return with budget and vendor options if committee supports expansion.

Ending: Committee members praised the trainers’ work and asked staff to return with any recommendations for added equipment or policy changes to ensure consistent coverage across school and town athletic facilities.