Millions of high school students participate in sports each year, drawn to the intensity, competition, and community they bring. However, the physical demands of athletics often place students at risk of injury.
In response, the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Recover and Rise team at Charter has a mission to raise awareness and prevent injuries among student-athletes. The team focuses on teaching students how to train properly and understand how their bodies work so that they can make healthier choices.
Junior and team member from Recover and Rise, Reyna Kannan, comments, “My team and I noticed how often students pushed through pain or lacked basic recovery knowledge, so we wanted to create a supportive, educational space where adolescents could learn how to protect their health.”
HOSA is an organization that gives students who are interested in the medical field opportunities to learn through events and demonstrations regarding healthcare. The team strives to build confidence in student athletes through their beneficial activities that revolve around athletic essentials.
These include making hydration kits that feature items such as Liquid IV, protein bars, and water bottles, which took place on Dec.11, as well as workshops on correctly wrapping injuries held on Jan.9. Many more workshops like these are planned for the future. Additionally, they spread awareness on important topics like hydration myths versus facts, recognizing early signs of injury, and how small habits can benefit the athlete’s body.
These activities and facts aren’t just for the athletes; it is key for everybody to be informed about this information to avoid any risks. Their injury-wrapping workshop taught students basic injury care techniques that can apply for regular situations.
“Knowing how to properly wrap an injury can prevent further damage, reduce pain, and allow more room for healing,” shares Meghan Chin, a senior and member of the Recovery and Rise team. “Even non-athletes can benefit, because injuries can happen anywhere in our everyday lives. With these skills, we hope to promote safety, confidence, and preparedness for day-to-day situations.”
The number of athletes within one’s radius shows why groups such as Recover and Rise are needed. Hands-on demonstrations help students better understand the importance of staying healthy and strong in sports. Feeding with words will eventually turn into waste.
HOSA brought in a trainer from Memorial Regional Hospital for the injury-wrapping demonstration, which shows their priority in helping students with injuries. Trainer John taught why wrapping incorrectly can do damage and why each step plays a role. The student body can prevent many incidents from reaching dangerous points due to these teachings.
“We wanted participants to understand not just how to wrap common injuries, but why proper support matters, when wrapping is appropriate, and which warning signs should never be ignored,” Kannan shares.
The future holds many more opportunities for the organization. They are planning to collaborate with trainers and healthcare professionals, along with hosting more hands-on learning with the use of workshops.
Chin emphasizes, “We want all students, athletes, and non-athletes to feel informed, empowered, and supported when it comes to their health, creating a safer and healthier community.”
