Local physical therapist provides safety training to area agencies, schools
Michael E. Kordecki, principal at Praxis Physical Therapy in Vernon Hills, and a Certified Athletic Trainer, has been conducting a series of training sessions for emergency service personnel at the Mundelein Fire Department to prepare first responders in proper care for concussions, cervical spine, and head injuries to football players. Included in the sessions that have been held or are coming up in the next week are members of the EMS and Trauma teams from Lake Forest Hospital, Advocate Condell Medical Center, the Libertyville Fire Department, and Mundelein High School.
Kordecki will be joined in the sessions by Stanford Tack, MD, a colleague who has worked with Kordecki on previous projects involving treatment of injured players. “The purpose of the sessions is to ensure that a player who incurs a serious head or neck injury receives appropriate treatment on site from medical and athletic training personnel,” said Kordecki. In addition to the growing concern over concussions, Kordecki will address the latest advancements in stabilizing a player suspected of having a spine injury, including the proper steps for removing equipment and transporting them to a care facility.
“Equipment manufacturers have made tremendous strides in recent years in improving accessibility to injured players. We will show how helmets have been redesigned to allow for quick and safe removal of the face mask,” Kordecki explained. “Should a player need to be moved to a long spine board for transportation to a hospital, there are specific steps and methods that research indicates should be followed. Dr. Tack and I will be demonstrating those methods in the training sessions as well.”
In total Kordecki expects to train 30 to 40 professionals in the meetings. Kordecki volunteers his time at Carmel Catholic High School by attending all football games and along with Dr. Tack has been at the forefront of equipment development and research around treatment for injured football players at all levels. Kordecki can be reached at 847-247-7200 for further information on this topic.