Hey, this is Sandy. And Randy?
And we're here on AT Corner. Being an Athi trainer comes with
ups and downs, and we're here to showcase it all.
Join us as we share our world in sports medicine.
Welcome back to another episode of AT Corner.
For this week's episode, we are going to be be doing our best
Anna and Elsa impersonation because we're talking about cold
stories. So the cold never bothered you
anyway. Cold never bother me anyway.
That was good. Let it go.
I thought it was pretty good too.
So we are from California, so it's so cold.
Cold does bother us Anyway, so we actually had enough stories
last time from our last our last story episode we did weather
stories and we just had so many great stories that we thought
Cold needed its own episode. It's a good idea.
And we wanted to get some expertise from people who
actually deal with cold in the cold, not like California cold
like we get. Or that one cross country meet I
had in Minnesota. Which I'm sure we will talk
about. Probably.
So the first question I did ask on the story episode was have
you ever had to cancel a game because of cold weather?
Have you ever had to cancel a game because of cold weather?
No, I haven't, but I I think my question would be have you ever
wanted to cancel a game because of cold weather?
I feel like 100. That would be 100.
Percent honestly right there. Honestly 44% of people did say
yes they have cancelled a game. I feel like, I mean, I get, I
get it from like everywhere. Everywhere.
Everywhere else. Everywhere but California, but I
still feel like that's a bigger number.
Yeah, that's a bigger number than I would.
Have thought like 30 ish 30s right?
Interesting. You mean like the weather?
Exactly. Haley S said literally today's
softball game got cancelled due to the real field being 32° at
game time. The coaches were worried bats
would break. Something.
You literally like we never have to think about.
We never have to think about this.
I I would have never thought that, Yeah, like that would have
to be a concern. I mean, I get it because of the
material of the bats, but right, That's wild.
I mean, it makes so much sense. I would have just put it as just
I don't want to be out there. No one wants to be out there.
I mean, especially when you think about it, like, why do the
coaches want to be out there? Because they're not like moving
around like the athletes are. Yeah, I don't.
You know they're feeling the cold more than the athletes are.
Yeah. Just saying.
So in this episode, we are talking about cold stories.
We're talking about cold weather tips.
We're talking about for athletic trainers, kind of must haves for
your kids. We're also talking about dealing
with snow. We're going to talk about some
snow. We're going to also talk about
some hypothermia, of course. And then I left for the end.
A little tidbit about avalanches.
What? I know what, you'll just have to
wait till end. That's wild.
Now you want to read this next anonymous one.
Yes, Anonymous says. Happens a lot with outdoor
spring sports. Constant communication with
coaches and administration are specific.
Conference regulations go off of real field temps.
So we have a common weather app used conference wide that all
ATS and coaches have access to. This enables all of us to
monitor potential cold weather and real field temps prior to
game time. It seemed we used to get a lot
more pushback from coaches before we included them on the
app. Now they can easily see and
track the weather beforehand with Atcs.
For our conference with softball, real feel has to be
above 40° before start of of time of game.
The game can still be played if both coaches mutually agree on
it. Most times we will attempt to
reschedule later in the season, but depending on how many games
end up getting rescheduled due to weather, sometimes they do
end up just canceling. Our administration is great
about working with a TS and coaches and planning ahead to
have possible options in case of cold weather.
See, these are these are the things that exactly like I think
why Josh O wanted this whole story episode is because like,
how do you know how to deal with this if you're not from that
area? Yeah, for sure.
You know. Yeah, no, I agree with that.
Something that actually I had to look up because it, it came up a
lot when I was like messaging people to put this episode
together was real feel, real feel temps.
The definition that I got was an index that combines various
weather factors and that takes into account wind speed,
humidity, solar radiation, so that you actually know how hot
or cold it is outside, not just like the actual air temperature.
What I'm understanding it as is also like, you know, how like we
have the heat index rather than just like the ambient
temperature. Like that's how I'm
understanding it. I, we don't really say real feel
like here because I think it doesn't get cold enough that
like we really use it. But like pretty much everyone
who I was messaging used real feel.
Yeah, wind chill get you. Wind chill is real.
Yes, real feel. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
You want to tell us about the time you went to Minnesota?
It was cold, luckily it wasn't windy, but race time was 8°.
So. So did you go with Cross?
Yeah, it was for cross country. So we went to Minnesota in like
October I think it was. I think it was late mid-october.
So it was starting to get colder and it was really cold do.
You remember how cold? Yeah, I, I do remember race
time, it was 8° and I think that because we got there two days
before. I think we got like to
acclimatize. I think more just to get used to
the course like so they can actually do a like a shake out
with the course. And it was.
It hovered around that like one day I.
Think it was like like real feel 8.
I think so. I think it was pretty, pretty
close. Well, I think the real feel and
the actual temperature. So did they actually say real
feel? That was me just trying to use
like no. No one really said anything but
I do remember looking at it and I always do look at the feels
like part OK. Right.
And I don't know if I don't know if real feel and feels like are
the same thing. I don't think they are.
Oh, OK. Maybe not.
I think real feel is more like the index.
Yeah, no one told me that. No one said anything that did
not come up while we were out there.
OK, but it was cold. But there were, I don't remember
a breeze, so I don't remember wind chill being a big concern.
That's good. Yeah, Didn't you have to deal
with some like hypothermia? Yeah, that's why we said
hypothermia, man. I'm ready.
Do we just want to jump to that? We actually, I actually did ask
that. I've asked if athletic trainers
have had to treat hypothermia, which I kind of expected if we
had so many people who deal with cold weather.
I kind of expected like hypothermia, like if you think
of the opposite, hyperthermia or like heat.
We deal with heat. Like, I'm pretty sure if I asked
if anyone's dealt with like, heat exhaustion or like a heat
illness or like any sort of like heat anything, I'm sure it's
really close to 100%, like, at least out here.
Yeah, for sure. Have you had to treat
hypothermia? Only 8% of people said yes.
I'm part of that. 8%, that's crazy.
That is. Wild.
Obviously that's just off the pole that we ran, which was like
couple 100, but you know. Like again too, I mean, I guess
you could say the same thing about hyperthermia, but like, I
feel like you're like, we're pretty good at like preventing.
Like if it's not like if we can't be playing, if it's too
cold to play this game, like you're not going to be out
there. So the risk of hypothermia, I
like to think is lower just because of the fact like, why
are we out here? We're not going.
To play this game, hopefully. Right.
But I guess you could kind of say the same thing about
hyperthermia, like, hey, if it's too hot, we're not going to be
out here, right? They still are.
Yeah, right. So I.
Like you get so much pushback. Yeah.
So I I kind of get by like, I don't know, that was my kind of
initial thought about why it might be lower, yeah.
So I did also ask what are your cold weather tips?
The number one answer by far, like by far.
I'm not even like the second answer is not even like close
layers. Yes.
Also replacements for layers that may get wet or waterproof
layers that prevent anything getting wet.
Yeah, that's what that outer layer is supposed to be, Do you?
Want to read this one from Matt E?
He's actually in construction, so keep that in mind.
Like while he's while you're reading this.
Got you. So Matt E says I think it's
important to educate on proper layering and I'm coming from
construction so it's different but still mentioning dry fit for
base layers or moisture wicking wool down or fleece, something
like that for mid layers and something to protect against
wind. Having extra dry clothes on hand
if you get wet or too sweaty. Removing layers as needed,
importance of still hydrating and having a warm place to take
them to if needed. With young athletes absolutely
do not know how to layer. However, an important thing to
keep in mind is depending on the age and where you're working,
they may not have the means to purchase all those layers.
Yeah, for sure. In construction it's hit or
miss, but generally they do a better job.
Especially if they've been in the industry for a while, they
know they need those layers. The biggest problem we face is
that employees have to wear a certain type of glove and still
be able to use their hands. So companies have to purchase a
glove that meets those requirements and is insulated.
See, this is what I love about like different settings.
It's like you get to like, really see the intricacies that
you don't know from, like the outside.
Yeah, I never would have known about like different
construction gloves. For sure, Yeah.
No, for sure. Also that layers aspect, you
know, we, you know, I learned that as a student in the AT that
taught us that was from the Midwest.
So experience, yeah, yeah. They they, so we go hiking a lot
and when we go hiking in the cold, there's this saying that
we like to follow be bold, start cold.
So basically when you get to the trailhead, you want to put on
like the socks, for example, or like whatever base layers that
you're going to be wearing for the hike instead of like driving
really nice and cozy all the way there.
Because you're going to get sweaty in those layers.
And then you're when you are hiking like that sweat then
turns into moisture and then that is cold on your body.
But if you start with new layers then the IT can help like with
like wicking of that and following these layering
principles. Yeah, for sure.
And you can always add, it's easier to add layers when you're
cold. Yeah.
Another tip people gave was move inside for practices.
Yeah, that sounds great. Fantastic.
Having a plan on where to move people that is warm and dry when
needed and then plan ahead for a cold weather policy, which this
is another one that I thought was really interesting because
obviously like we're very well policied for heat.
Like there is so much out there on heat, like Corey Stringer
Institute and like, like so much on heat, but it seems that
there's not really a consensus yeah, on cold weather policies.
So what I kind of got from this was reach out to your local a TS
in your area and kind of see what they do and align with
them. So like like, especially like if
you're like in a certain conference or a league or like a
some sort of association or something that you're all kind
of on the same area, like reach out to.
There's got to be other a TS somewhat.
I mean, unless you're pioneering something like even if you're
pioneering something like, at least there's going to be a TS
hopefully in the area or somewhere close, right?
Someone to reach out to and then just see what they do.
Yeah, I feel like that is starting to become more common
though. Like, I think, I think our
Athletic Association kicked it around.
What cold? Yeah, a cold policy and then I
think NAIA did too, or like we're in the beginnings of
starting it. So, so I think it's becoming a
little more popular that we're like, oh, we have something for
heat, we should have something for cold.
It's about time. Yeah, it sounds like, it sounds
like people are just. It's like the Wild West but like
not. Some must haves for your kit #1
answer. Heated everything.
Mostly hand warmers. People also said toe warmers.
Smart. Heated vests, heated scarves,
like whatever you can get your hands on that's actually heated.
Heated blankets. Hands heated.
That was pretty good. My favorite thing in the world
are hand warmers like the electric hand warmers, like the
like the rechargeable hand warmers.
I actually use them today because my office is freezing.
The real field temp is about 32. Just kidding, I have no idea but
it is really cold in my office. And you.
Should you should get a measurement.
I I do I I use the the the web bulb.
What did it give you? I.
Don't remember, but I did post it.
I did post on our Instagram so you can go see that and you can
see you can see the wind that is happening at my desk, AKA the
air conditioner that literally. Points.
You mean the wind chill? Straight to my hand on the mouse
that literally freezes while I'm trying to work on the computer.
The wind chill. I just have to share that
literally cutest, most thoughtful, amazing.
I don't even, I was just absolutely touched by this card
that one of my students got me. You know, and Frozen's my
favorite Disney movie. How they say some people are
worth melting for. Well, we would like sit in the
office or like especially like on late night tickets, like
really cold in there. And she made me this card that
said some preceptors are worth freezing for and it's Frozen.
It was literally like my favorite card I've ever seen.
I know it was amazing, so shut up.
I. Don't know if she wants me to
say her name but shout out to my amazing student.
Cold weather must haves you honor.
Oh, I really like this story. Sekaji says the moms at my high
school growing up would bake a bunch of potatoes and keep them
in a chest on the sideline during cold games.
They stay hot for a long time, so they'd be used as a cheap
form of hand warmer slash heat. That's crazy, I did not know
that. Like baked potatoes?
That's dope. Like genius.
I never would have known this. I make sure I have lots of warm
layers, including a water slash windproof outer layer.
Shoes need to be waterproof too. If they're not, I'll put ice
bags around my socks and then into my shoes so my feet can
stay dry. It's hard to stay warm if your
feet are wet. That is so true for athletes.
I always make sure to check the wet bulb, wet bulb, globe
temperature, and relative temp. If the field is covered, we have
to get it at least somewhat cleared before practice slash
game. I've had my coach buy cleat
scraper mats that most people think of for mud and grass, but
we mostly use them for snow and ice.
I can see. That yeah, my coach also bought
a set of parkas for the sideline, so anyone who is not
in can wear one of those. Genius.
When the temperature gets particularly low, I'll bring out
a thermos or two of hot water because our spigots on our water
coolers and the lids of our water bottles will freeze over,
so we have to unfreeze them again.
Things you don't think? Things you don't think about
unless you're in it. I would not have.
I would have never thought of that.
Yeah, that they would freeze over.
That's crazy. Right.
Also shout to the parkas because parkas are dope.
They're nice and warm. They got us through when we were
camping in 26°. Weather, yes, yes they did.
And also that just made me think of the swim team, like the
parkas, they always get super clutch.
The best parkas. Yeah.
So please cold weather people, tell me if if hot potatoes are
common. Yeah, is that a thing?
Or or if this is just like an ingenious like.
What do you do with the potatoes after?
Do you eat the potatoes? I feel like if you're passing
them around. Yeah, there's so many, but it's
an outer layer, so could you still use the inside layer?
No, what you do is you just let it sit on your oh, I guess if it
bakes for a while you can't do this, but sit on your counter
until it grows those little eyes and then plant it.
There you go and or cut it up and then plant it and make more
potatoes there. You go more hand no more.
Hand warmers, some other must haves, water, electrolytes to
say hydrated hot drinks like tea.
Yes yes Vaseline skin Lube. This was like another one that I
actually for a while I was like, why?
I was like chapped lips. Maybe I like, I asked several
people because, because it was literally like everyone was
saying Vaseline and I was like just not really fully
understanding like why. But this anonymous person said,
I worked for AD 3 college hockey team and we played against a
team at an outdoor ice rink on the coldest day of the year.
Of course it was a real feel temp of -7°.
Nope. Like sounds terrible.
Yeah no thanks. My guys came to me after the
first period asking for something to help their faces
stop stinging from the cold so we tried it and it worked very
well. Although proper clothing and
layering as well as rewarming periods are always essential.
Vaseline helped insulate from the cold wind chill and created
a moisture barrier on the skin to prevent dry slash chaps skin
and help them stay as warm as possible.
Since their faces were the majority you've exposed skin
while in uniform. It can also help prevent
frosting. Interesting.
That's crazy. And then our cool one from
Kevin, he also said chapped lips, chapped hands, ears,
noses, etcetera. Anything exposed that needs an
extra layer of something to help protect it.
So basically the things that you can't like layer up, you layer
with Vaseline, yeah. Makes sense?
Yeah, genius. Cool.
That's pretty dope. I want to know like, does it
stay and like how thick of a layer do you need?
I need more information. I.
Feel like it's not super thick? Like, do you just like, is it
like Chapstick but you just like put?
A Put a chap face. Have you seen like when you know
when people like go like snowboarding and then that you'd
like they're just like their cheeks are just.
Yeah, I know what you're talking about.
Or like you can see where the goggles are.
Tissues was another. Oh, OK.
Must have. Sniffles.
Mm hmm, as your nose gets all, what happens?
If it's so cold that your mucus freezes.
You get a little icicle. Yeah, I get a little icicle
coming out. Have you had to deal with snow
at work? Nope.
Actually, I almost had to deal with snow at work.
It was supposed to snow one day and I was so I was so excited
like two years ago. Oh Yep, I was.
I remember. This I was actually 2 1/2 years
ago. Must been I was so excited
because obviously like it doesn't snow out here, but it
was supposed to. Especially that low too.
Right in elevation, Right, Right.
And I, it wasn't supposed to like stick, but like it was
supposed to snow. Yeah, it didn't snow.
No, it didn't. Wasn't it just rain?
It was just rain that. That's just now it's just cold
rain. Yeah, you don't even get the
benefit. We did have hail there.
Oh, fun. But I feel like hail is just
it's hail. Yes, it's the sky throwing rocks
at you. Yeah, one time there's a
hailstorm so bad that it like stopped the freeway, like out
here. Oh yeah.
I was like, actually on my way to go see Randy.
Yeah, and everyone freaked out. I know no one knows what to do
out here. 78% of people said yes, they've had to deal with
snow work. That's crazy. 22% said no.
Wild Kirsten M said Heavy snowfall during men's lacrosse
is actually what I hate the most.
I would do if they can't see the ball flying and then it's a
safety concern and I've had to transition teams to wait inside
temporarily until the snow let up due to visibility.
Ice is worse though. One year ultimate wanted to play
their tournament and the field had ice chunks that the ground
crew couldn't clean with the plow.
The team begged to play so I said if they could get the field
playable and not hazardous with chunks everywhere then they
could play. They brought shovels with them
from their apartments and cleared themselves.
Meanwhile I froze my butt off. They had a good time though.
Well, as long as they had fun, I don't know why they wanted to.
I don't know. I still feel like I'd be like,
we could play this another day when it when it's not cold the.
The frisbee doesn't feel cold. Apparently, yeah.
Like that's why. It just needed to be that.
Day we had to play that game. It just needed to be that day.
It had to wild. Someone who's worked that, I
want to know what kind of injuries you see.
We should do an ultimate frisbee episode.
I think one of my coaches. Intramural sports episode.
Yeah. Well, we should.
We haven't. We haven't done that.
Yeah, because I feel like, I mean.
Working club sports is definitely different than
working. It is your traditional also like
some places don't they have like Quidditch as a club sport?
Like I'm sure there's interesting stories.
I've been asked to be an athletic trainer for Quidditch,
but I just couldn't make it to any of the.
See, I'm sure there's interesting stories there.
Yeah, it's it's. A future episode right there.
Yeah, yeah. Let us know if if you work some
club sorts. We want to, yeah.
You want to read this anonymous one?
Yes, Anonymous. Oh yes, 'cause cross country.
Hey, cross country in the cold, Anonymous says.
We hosted a cross country event with runners from six and under
to adults that is a wide yes. It is a ring arrangement of
ages. We unexpectedly, unexpectedly
had snow all day long during the event.
Poor little kids were crying and covered in snot.
They probably didn't want to. Run anymore.
You know, I, I, I was listening to one of our older episodes for
some reason I don't remember, it was actually not an old episode.
Is is more recent? I don't remember which one it
was, but I had said that I'd never had a hysterical parent.
I am lying. I totally had a hysterical
parent at a cross country event that was like this from six and
under two adults. Like literally like that big
time, like big span. There was a kid who was running
their first cross country race. No, I don't know what it was.
I don't remember if it was cross or I don't know, they were
running a race. I feel like it was probably
cross. Yeah, because they were gone.
So yeah, it could have been dragged.
It must have been crossed. So they were running and I don't
know why the mom thought they lost their kid, but they didn't
think they, the kid crossed the finish line.
And so then the mom was like hysterical.
Obviously it's like that's scary.
But like I had to do. I don't remember why I had to
deal with that, but like I had to deal with that.
You were there. So I don't remember why we were
talking about it, but I am correcting an old episode.
Anyway, sorry to interrupt you. I'm glad Covered and Snot
reminded you of that one. No, I just was thinking about
the all these kids were crying. That was a kid who was like, I
was like, do you want to do you want to run again?
And he was like, no, I never want to do this again.
I think after seeing your mom like freak.
Out like that well, I was going to say and the course that
you're thinking that you worked after running that course yeah,
that's. Probably the wrong answer.
Anonymous continues with parents would have to coax them across
the finish line. My gosh.
We started with a golf cart for the trail cart until we slid
downhills sideways and couldn't get up other hills.
We finally had to switch to the Kubota.
OK, so funny story, I had no idea what AI think it's a Kubota
or like I don't know how how you say it.
I had no idea what that was, but then I was driving.
You saw it. I literally saw one like there
was like this little like construction zone and like a
like one just sitting there and I was like, Oh my gosh, a
Cabata. I someone just messaged us about
that. So yeah, it's like a little more
rugged vehicle. Is it comparable to the?
John, let me let me show you a picture you can keep reading.
We had to watch for dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite.
We did have some runners wipe on the court, wipe out on the
course and at the finish line, but all were fine.
Got it. It's like a heavy duty golf
cart. Yeah, it's almost like a John
Deere. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Heavy duty. Yeah, luckily most runners came
prepared since this was an event you paid to run in, unlike
school events. And several runners, if they
chose to not wear pants, leggings, long sleeves,
etcetera, they usually had a parent or teammate waiting near
the finish line with warm clothes.
Smart. Several runners would shed
clothing items as the race went on, which we stopped to pick up.
Probably had about 100 items all together we picked up.
So they just, like, shed their clothing, yeah.
They're just, Nope, don't need that anymore, apparently.
So someone will get it. Yeah.
We have an indoor heated training room right by the
finish line. If we had to evaluate someone,
along with some thermal emergency blankets, we made snow
angels and a snowman while waiting for the runners to
finish. It was so cold and miserable,
but at the same time, it was one of the best days we had.
We still talk about it during cross, during cross country
races. That's pretty.
Funny, honestly. But I like how we still had to
account for the fact that it was miserable.
No, no, that's what I was going to say.
Those that's like some of the like some of the worst memories
or sometimes some of the best memories.
It's it's a memory exactly. You'll talk about it.
Exactly. Like when you're at a track meet
14 hours in the rain. Exactly.
Talk about it. That was not a fun time.
But wasn't it though? That's soaked right through my
jet. So we also have a cool one from
Kevin. This one includes pictures.
I didn't ask him if we should if we could share, so I got to ask
him if we can. Then I'll post those in our
Facebook group which is facebook.com/group/eighty Corner
podcast. We post episode threads with a
lot of things like pictures from the shows.
Also, we have questions of the week that Randy posts and we'll
they're just kind of like stimulate some discussion.
We're not as active on there as we used to be, but you know,
it's a fun place. Yes, it is.
If you don't like the rest of Facebook, at least at least a
Facebook group is it's. A nice community, yeah.
Cool. One from Kevin, he said, was on
a spring break trip to West Virginia for men's lacrosse.
They had a freak snowstorm. Isn't that how it always works?
Yeah, yeah, it's. Always.
But that's also like places that have weather.
That's what it is. Yeah.
It's like freak weather, it just comes out of nowhere.
Right. Two different hotels lost power.
The bus couldn't drive on the roads 'cause they used cinder
ash instead of salt or sand. It was a miserable week.
Some locals hooked their pickups to the front and another got
behind the bus with his F-350 and pushed it up the hill.
We checked out of that hotel and went to another one that had
power. After we checked in, which was
five hours later, the power went out in that hotel.
So we loaded the bus, drove as far as we could with the bus
driver staying in his hours just outside Pittsburgh, checked into
a hotel there and stayed for just 10 hours. 10 hours is the
mandatory dot off time for drivers.
So at 4:00 AM we loaded the bus and drove back to the college.
All of that and we played one out of three games we were
supposed to. So worth it.
So this is the picture at the start of the game.
Nice. And like just a normal day,
right? Halftime, there's some snow on
the floor. Already looks terrible.
Third quarter, you can't even tell that the floor is green.
End of the game, Actually, you. Now you really can't tell.
It's just just white. Yeah.
Wow. Could you imagine just you being
in that? See, that's The thing is I'm,
I'm not trying to think of it from the athletes perspective,
cause whatever they're moving and stuff.
I'm just thinking like I would be standing there.
Yeah. And I would be seeing this
happening and the only thing I can think of is why am I higher?
I know like at what point in the middle, I guess if it's like as
it's a safety concern, right, visibility or like.
Yeah, that's true. Like, I get it.
Like if it's coming down hard enough and you can't.
Again, lacrosse is a white ball. That's true.
So. That's like at what?
Point Did they lose? Did they lose that on the floor?
Yeah, see, that's what I'm saying is like, at what point
can you not see the ball anymore?
That's probably why they only played one out of three.
Right. Or one of the reasons, I'm sure,
right? Plenty.
Right. Do you want to read this one
from Jen or gem from Jen? Do we got a cool one from Kevin
and a gem from Jen. And back-to-back, if you guys
actually don't know before, I'm going to just preface this.
I feel like we we kind of just like let these be like this cool
one from Kevin Gem from Jen, you guys, these people you if you
don't know Kevin Joyce and Gen. Kron, they are well, we didn't
know them. They actually we did a hockey
episode. It was a it was the first
episode that we did Co hosting stories that should go down in
the Hall of Fame of AT corner podcast.
They they've been here kind of like from the start, I believe
day one and we're like over here on the West Coast, like hot
weather. They're like on the East Coast,
like cold weather. We actually met in person for
the first time at NATA in the Expo.
It was the Expo hall, I think. Yes, it was.
So that was super exciting. And other than that, like we
just get so much knowledge and amazing stories from these
people. So we are so blessed to be able
to have two this episode from them.
Oh, for sure. So now, without further ado,
here's a gem from Jen. Oh, other stories.
Where do I start? Here in upstate New York, it's
entirely possible to get all Four Seasons in one day.
See, we don't know what that means.
Yeah, well, we don't even get Four Seasons, let alone in one
day. Right.
Shall we start with the Blizzard that brought us 3 feet of snow
on the eve of the Women's National Bat National Basketball
tournament we were hosting? Luckily the snow was Monday
Tuesday and all teams were able to get here and begin play on
Wednesday. See, that's the thing, like you
think like basketball that's indoors, but then you're like
snow, you have to travel. Yeah, what what trips me out is
like we don't have to deal with that when we are like driving to
work. Yeah.
Like you, it's like, I know like Randy's parents sometimes will
text us like their snow and be like, oh, we had to walk to the
store. You can't drive.
I just don't really. I can't, my brain can't really
fully comprehend like OK, what do?
You do, but the teams that came from North Carolina and Texas
were both freaked out and amazed because they've never seen that
much snow in one place. Then there's a soccer playoff
game that was played in the pounding Snane.
That's a new one. That is snow plus rain equals
snain. The wind was blowing around 20
to 30 mph and the temp was hovering around 34°.
No, there is no cold matrix like there is for heat.
See, this is what we don't understand.
Trust me, I looked and of course the game went into PKS.
Of course I did. Yeah, of course.
So that's 110 minutes of soccer in the rain, plus PKS that day.
I ended up treating at least a dozen cases of frostbite, near
frostbite, hypothermia, and near hypothermia.
Oh, we won. It was a bit of a trial and
error and definitely some triage.
I'd look at the extremities and if they weren't bad, they'd go
directly into the showers and stand under the water until they
felt warm again. We had a male staff member in
the locker room making sure all was safe.
We rated our stash of old warmups for the kids who didn't
have anything warm slash dry. After the showers, I rechecked
extremities. That's interesting.
For those who needed rewarming on the hand slash feet, we found
that tepid water worked best, gradually increasing the temp of
the water. Starting out too hot is painful
and can damage the tissues. Yeah, for sure.
We also use hot packs on pulse points for those who couldn't
get in the showers right away. We did have one kid with some
lasting sensitivity to cold in in his hands.
It was insane. That is crazy.
That's interesting. Seriously.
When I was living in Florida we had a soccer game that ended up
being cancelled because of rain. I've never seen rain like this.
It was like at the water park and they have the giant bucket
that fills up and dumps gallons of water on you.
I could, I know what I can picture this, but I can't
picture this in just life and just.
In the rain. Do you remember after that there
was a football game. There was a football game that I
was working and I don't know, like we had several lightning
delays. And even with that, it just
timed out literally perfectly, perfectly that at the end of the
football game, it wasn't at the end of the football game.
It was the end of us cleaning up.
Yeah, at the end of the football game, it started to like,
drizzle. But literally as we were
leaving, we were as soon as we walked out the gate, it
literally started like dumping, dumping water so much that like,
this is actually one of my favorite memories.
Like Randy and I just like sprinted to our cars and we were
just like literally laughing so hard because we were like, what
is even happening? It was just literally like it
was, I mean it was lightning and it was like light and then it
was dumping. So yeah, like that, but without
the pause coming from the sky, they stopped the game because a
player would go to kick the ball and it wouldn't go anywhere.
Oh. Gosh.
The field was unplayable. Yeah, I would say yeah.
Oh, shall we also talk about the time we had a bit of a spring
thaw and it was 55° outside the community hockey ring we were
playing in? They're never insulated.
It's like playing in a big barn. The game was delayed 30 minutes
because of the fog in the arena. Oh wow, that's.
Crazy. I've never heard of like inside.
Yeah, I'm sure there's more, but that's all for now.
Dude. So I I love the frostbite
hypothermia hacks there. I know, that's pretty cool.
Because I too had to do hypothermia hack.
Oh yeah, tell me. Yes.
So again, cross country or Minnesota?
You have no athletic training room around.
Yeah, just the main medical which again like is obviously
the host school is should is prepared.
For right, right, right. Right the the from there right
right. So they theoretically are
prepared. So anytime I'd work like cross
country and that we would travel like the travel was always nice
because then I just had to worry about my team.
So I would always try and keep an eye on them and make sure
everyone finished. So I'd keep a track of everyone
who started that race, make sure all those people finished and
make sure I saw them and they. Did a good.
Job. Yeah, well, there was one person
I couldn't account for. One person was missing.
I was like, oh, no. So I asked a few of the
athletes, hey, where's this person?
And they're like, oh, I think she was in the medical town.
I'm like, oh boy, OK. And I, I can't remember what
happened because I was like, man, I, I don't know why I
couldn't get over there because a lot of times I would have, I
would have been at the finish. And there was just, I can't
remember why, but I couldn't get to the finish line even though I
was also medical. So you can like see who crosses
the line, the finish line with their little shoe tag thing,
right? Well, that's how they do it for
the timing, but obviously I see our teams.
What I mean like, like if you are like dealing with someone,
like remember when we had those two people collapse at the same
time? Yeah.
And then obviously we're not watching the finish line
anymore. Yeah, but like if you need to
account for people like. Theoretically, yeah, they should
have it recorded that they finished, that they crossed
because they had to, they got the time so or they.
Didn't. Or they didn't.
So eventually I see her like leaving with just like a space
blanket. I'm like OK, well at least she's
alive. No one activated EMS.
So this is great. She's walking and just like
talking to her like you can tell she started just like she was
just like really slowed down. She was really cold so and they.
Just what was she fine before that or like?
I think she was starting to feel it as she finished.
No, I mean like she went to the medical tent and then just sent
her away. I don't know what exactly was.
Because you weren't. Done.
Because again, I couldn't get there because if, if I could get
there, I would have just taken care of her.
Right, right. Actually, this is a really good.
I'm going to interrupt you because I see this a lot with
athletic trainers. I, I feel like we should be on
each other's sides. Athletic trainers are so quick
to like, judge other athletic trainers.
They're like, what do you do in that situation?
Like, whatever, you have no idea.
Like you know, nothing presents by the book.
Like you have no idea how something's presenting to some
person. Also, you know how one person
will tell you a story and then you're like, hey, can I get
second eyes on this? Or you like even if you're a
student with your preceptor or like you or like you're a
preceptor and then you like ask a question to the athlete and
then they say, oh, I did this. And then the student like turns
you and they're like, they didn't tell me that.
And it's like they have completely different stories.
Like, you just have no idea what that person was presented with.
And you can think that you know why they're making a decision,
but you're not in their shoes. So just trust that they are
making a decision that they know is in the best interest of the
student athlete. Like, I don't think anyone's
consciously trying to make a decision that's not good for the
student athlete. For sure.
So I know she thank. You for letting me interrupt.
Something like she got some form of treatment because once she
left with a space blanket, which I don't even know whatever
happened to that thing that we didn't give it back.
So, so she was there for a little bit.
So they did something for her and obviously she was coherent
walking and alive all right, but she was still having the
symptoms. So I was very surprised there
was no like quick access to like warm fluids, which maybe their
tent, maybe the medical tent did.
But again, I, I don't know why I just, I don't know.
I couldn't get there. So I had to stand in line for
hot chocolate. Yes, I used my per diem by the
way to purchase this this hot chocolate.
Team player here. You're just looking out for your
ass. I was so I'm standing in line
for hot chocolate. And then I also thought like, Oh
well, the, the, the sweetness, like the, the carbs.
From the Yeah the sugar. The glucose from the hot
chocolate would also be beneficial, so.
Like inside metabolism? So then I got got her hot
chocolate and she was doing OK, but she still wasn't doing
great. And so finally, I was like, you
know what? Our van has heated seats.
Wait, you had a van with heated seats?
Yeah, we had the like, It literally was like a Dodge van.
Yeah, well, there wasn't that many of us, so we had two of
those Grand Caravan deal. So I was like, hey, let's throw
her in the van. Crank up the heat seat warmers.
Gradually, right? It's just a good gradual, right?
I guess it will be gradual later.
On as we cranked up the heat, put the put the seat warmers on.
Her. That's so innovative.
I love it. Yeah, and that helped a little
bit. And then so like she was doing
better, but still not like it still was taking a while, but we
were already going back to the hotel anyways.
The team always showers after. So like I knew she was going to
be in hot water anyway, get hot water at some point.
So, but yeah, that was that was probably the most interesting
course of treatment I have ever done.
It's very innovative. From waiting in line for hot
chocolate to using seat warmers. Did you ever think hot chocolate
would be something you would use in treatment?
Not until I knew we were going to Minnesota and it was going to
be 8° at race time. Because the entire week going
into that, that meet before we left, I just kept looking at the
weather. I'm like, bro, it's going to be
8° and like, again, I'm not worried about the runners.
They're going to be fine. I'm worried about me.
No, you know what Randy wore? He wore like a pair of his
normal work pants with like like a sweats over them.
And I was fine. I was fine and I had a hoodie.
You know, I wear like, you know when it's cold at work, I wear
like 2 pairs of pants just like to California cold work, you
know I do that. Yeah, but it it was only 8°.
Like it. I feel like at a certain point
it's just all the same now with no wind chill.
Still no wind chill. That was like, yeah, I'll be
fine when just sees. That was an interesting trip.
We did see the Mall of America. OK, so Mr. used to be a geology
major. Can you please explain to me why
this was snow and rain and like why it wasn't hail?
It's a great. Question like how come sometimes
it does that but it doesn't like hail?
I think it's just the temperature in the clouds when
that forms. The water droplets just didn't
freeze. But it's still OK.
Some, some kind of had had frozen crystals and some of it
was just rain. Some of it was like sloppy rain,
sloppy snow. I mean, I don't know.
Yeah, I just don't really, man. He used to be a geology major
before he was an athletic training major.
Yes, that 11 semester and I was like, this isn't it?
I found athletic training and that was it.
So you want to hear about avalanches?
Yes, 'cause this is wild. OK, so actually I this was not
one of the original ones that I asked, but someone did say, hey,
can you ask about avalanches? Like if anyone's had to deal
with like avalanches and we did actually get Kirsten F
respondent and said I worked at a boarding school in the Swiss
Alps for two. Years.
The hell? That sounds awesome.
Yeah, when I first started as an athletic trainer, we had a
rescue training and all skied with backpacks and supplies like
beepers, shovels and poles to do a rescue and it would be a call
to ski patrol for assist and evacuation.
The fact that you worked in the Swiss Alps.
Isn't that awesome? Yeah.
They said so. She also said that they had
other like they had traditional sports but like when it was in
season she would be working with all the skiers and all the.
What the hell? Yeah.
And now they have like like more like extreme.
Oh, the Quidditch. No, like extreme snow.
Oh, got it. Isn't that cool?
Yeah, that's really dope. Like, literally.
The things that you wouldn't think of.
Yeah, see, look at where AT can take you.
You could be working in the Swiss Alps.
Yeah, you could be just like, I feel like even like after
graduation, like I never would have thought that I'd be working
on a cruise ship. Yeah.
Right as an athletic. Trainer and it just shows
everybody needs an AT. It wasn't it.
It never snowed when I went to the cruise.
Ship. I don't think that sentence
makes sense. Snow and cruise what outside the
Alaskan cruises? But what?
Yes, you're right, it did not. Do you have any other like snow,
cold weather, any like last thoughts that you need to share?
No, that you're dying to share. No, I think most of mine just
revolve around rain and it's really kind of just that one
drag me. It was the worst of it.
Yeah, No. I feel like, oh, you know, I was
going to say I feel like I've had more rain than you have
recently, but then I realized you work indoors.
So you you really do. I.
Can't, I can't talk about these elements, man.
I'm, I'm inside, you know? What?
The only avalanches you're getting are the the ice machine
avalanches. Yeah, and but also my gyms are
cold. They are pretty freezing, Yeah,
I mean, not. Are they as freezing as my desk?
No, no, Yours is by far colder, no.
Yeah, it's pretty cold in there. Yeah.
People be like, it'll be like hot outside and I'm wearing like
double jackets and they're like, why are you wearing that?
And I'm like, 'cause I just came out of my office, I need to thaw
out for a little bit. There you go, bench time.
All right, well, if you guys are new, we do every episode as
either story episodes like this one where we take stories from
athletic trainers from around the world as you can see someone
who is in the Swiss Alps. That's super cool.
We also do CU episodes or education episodes that Randy
heads where he takes research articles from all over one
topic. And we kind of just sit down and
synthesize and like discuss in a very conversational manner, you
know, different topics. I think we're going to do one on
shoulder soon. And then you're also looking you
want to share some other topics? Looking at some neuroplasticity
stuff. So some brain looking for motor
control. Remember it is a reporting year
so look out for those. C US they are free as they come
out. If you're interested in on
demand C US Medbridge has a subscription.
You can get $101.00 off with code 80 corner and I think
that's kind of my fine part for today.
Let's leave it at that. Thank you for opening a showcase
outlet. Training behind the tape.
Bye.