Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to soon sign a bill to expand the abilities of athletic trainers to respond to emergencies. The bill would let licensed athletic trainers partner with doctors in order to perform additional services and activities.
Most of the more than 2,300 state-licensed athletic trainers have master’s degrees and have undergone training to immediately respond to life-threatening situations. Yet Republican Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) said they haven’t been allowed to administer basic life-saving treatments when seconds count.
“Despite having the training to successfully administer an IV, a trainer must wait for an EMT to arrive, potentially to the detriment of a patient. And despite having the necessary pharmacological training to provide over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, the current practice act prohibits this," Carfagna said.
The bill overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate. It’s now heading to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.
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