Students learn new skills at sports medicine workshop

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Studies show healthcare jobs are in high demand, making sports medicine a popular career path.

Students from the area participated Friday in a free workshop hosted by the Lake Area Athletic Trainers Association. The workshop took place at McNeese State University’s training facilities and physicians from Lake Charles Memorial visited with the student trainers to teach them more about the growing sports medicine field.

Around 50 aspiring athletic trainers from local high schools gave chest compressions to mannequins to the tune of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, the song the American Heart Association recommends people listen to when performing CPR.

Students were able to learn CPR, partake in college-level anatomy labs, try their hand at spine boarding, along with getting introduced to various taping methods.

“Some people call us just water girls, but we do do more than that. We do everything from taping, how to handle injuries, I’ve learned that the past three years, and i just keep adding on to that,” says Kiya Williamson, incoming Sam Houston High School senior.

Lake Area Athletic Trainers Association President Christi Barker attended the workshop when she was a young student trainer. The workshop ran annually until 2019, and it wasn’t until 2023 that Barker decided it was time to bring back the free event.

“We like to provide a service for the kids,” she said. “Maybe the ones who are not active in sports but would like to get involved in sports. It’s a good way for them to open the door, whether it’s athletic trainer, physical therapy or becoming a doctor.”

Barker said she hopes to bring the workshop back next year.

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