KANNAPOLIS–Northwest Cabarrus High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School award for its Trojan Athletic Program, according to a press release from the school.

     The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment. Northwest Cabarrus is one of only a select few in the country to receive this award and also the first school in the region in North Carolina to have been honored.

     “Northwest Cabarrus is honored to receive this 1st team recognition from the NATA,” said Jason Adams, athletic director at Northwest Cabarrus. “We will continue to remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and contests to assist them in accomplishing the goals of great competition, on field success, sportsmanship and good health. Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our student athletes.

     “Our partnership with Carolinas Healthcare System-Northeast has enhanced our athletic training program and this award is validation that we are doing the correct things for the health and safety of our athletes.”

     Principal Michael Jolley added, “It is an honor for Northwest to be a recipient of the Safe Sports School Award and shows dedication by our staff, the support of our community and the trust in our student athletes to utilize their resources.  It is another very proud day for Northwest Cabarrus High School.”

     Carolinas Healthcare System-Northeast provides one full-time licensed athletic trainer to each high school in Cabarrus County. In addition; each high school and middle school has a licensed athletic trainer and teacher.

     At Northwest Cabarrus, athletic training services are provided by CMC-Northeast athletic trainer Jim Bazluki, MAEd, LAT, ATC, who was recently inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame, as well as Kasia Zielinski, MAT, LAT, ATC, the school-based teacher and athletic trainer. Together they make sure that each athlete has access to proper care at practices and games, and have created a network of healthcare providers throughout the community to assure athletes at the school receive the best care possible.

     “Physical activity is very important for our youth,” according to NATA president Jim Thornton, MS, ATC, CES. “There has been an increase in competitive sports, which are, unfortunately, not without risk. Brain injury/concussion, cardiac arrest, heat illness, exertional sickling, cervical spine fractures and other injuries and illnesses are potentially life-threatening.” Proper planning with proper equipment and personnel is vital to the safety of student athletes today, he notes.

     For more information, please visit www.athletictrainers.org.