Some of South Florida’s top children’s healthcare specialists became teachers for a day at the Second Annual Florida Youth Athletic Association (FLYAA) coaches clinic, “Making Our Fields Safe,” held recently at the Broward County Convention Center.
Nearly 2,000 coaches from all over Florida gathered to learn from Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital (JDCH) orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and emergency room physicians. Topics covered everything from heat stroke and initial contact with a player down on the field to chest pain and brain injuries. Mario Salceda, administrator of physicians’ practices for JDCH, a coach himself and a member of the FLYAA Board of Directors, spearheaded the clinic for the past two years. The overall goal is to train coaches on the prevention, assessment and treatment of injury “Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is honored to support the coaches and kids of the FLYAA by being involved in this way,” stated Salceda. “To be able to bring our expertise the care of children directly to the coaches is truly a privilege for us. This training will make a difference when they face the challenges of an injured player or cheerleader at a sporting event.” Salceda pointed out that it is the children hospitals goal to improve the health of the communities it serves by focusing on the needs of patients and families. “Our doctors were excited to serve the coaches of the FLYAA through this clinic and, in doing so, serve communities throughout Florida by better equipping the coaches to care for their players.”
