Athletic trainers do more than tape ankles and treat sprains — they’re the critical connection between schools, hospitals, coaches, and student athletes. In this episode of Better Today, Healthier Tomorrow, host Ryan Howard talks with Cody Walker, Supervisor of Sports Medicine at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, about the essential role trainers play in protecting young athletes.

🎙️ Inside this episode:
- How athletic trainers serve as the first line of defense on the field
- The medical bridge between youth athletes, doctors, and emergency care
- Real-world stories of trainers identifying life-threatening conditions
- How trainers help schools implement emergency action plans
- The role of trainers in preventing and responding to:
▫️ Heat illness
▫️ Concussions
▫️ Sudden cardiac arrest

🏈 From sideline assessments to hospital referrals, athletic trainers are keeping kids safer — and getting them the care they need, fast.

📌 Why this matters:
In high school sports, every second counts. Whether it's recognizing signs of heatstroke, responding to a heart emergency, or guiding return-to-play after injury, athletic trainers are trusted experts in youth health and safety.

🫀 Learn about Project ADAM and why every school should have an AED and cardiac response plan.
📋 Coaches and schools — don’t forget your annual training requirements under Arkansas AAA guidelines!

In this episode of Providing Pediatrics: A Better Today, Healthier Tomorrow, host Charles Wooley sits down with Dr. Deidre Wyrick, Trauma Medical Director at Arkansas Children's, to discuss the national Pediatric Readiness (PEDS Ready) initiative. With over 24 million children seeking emergency care each year—90% of them in adult facilities—this conversation shines a light on a critical gap in pediatric emergency preparedness across the U.S. and Arkansas.

🩺 Topics Covered:

• What “PEDS Ready” really means for emergency departments & EMS
• Arkansas’ pediatric readiness score (and why it matters)
• The importance of the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC)
• Real-life challenges in rural pediatric emergency care
• How facilities can take the national readiness survey and improve care
• The role of Arkansas Children's Hospital in supporting providers statewide

💡 Whether you're a healthcare provider, EMS professional, or work in hospital leadership, this episode is a must-watch for understanding how to improve pediatric outcomes and save lives.

✅ Subscribe for more expert discussions on pediatric healthcare, trauma, and emergency medicine.

#PediatricCare #PEDSReady #ArkansasChildrens #EmergencyMedicine #PediatricEmergency #TraumaCare #EMS #HospitalLeadership #MedicalPodcast #HealthcareImprovement #PediatricReadiness #ArkansasHealth #ChildrensHospital

In this episode, host Charles Wooley sits down with Beth Hanks-Clark, CNP, of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, for a powerful and personal conversation about pediatric traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)—from severe trauma to mild concussions—and how early intervention and follow-up care are changing outcomes for kids.

👶 What You’ll Learn:

• The differences between mild, moderate, and severe pediatric TBIs
• Why many children with concussions were being lost to follow-up
• How the Concussion Consult Program is filling that critical gap
• The role of inpatient consults in improving continuity of care
• The importance of “Return to Learn” vs. “Return to Play”
• Arkansas Children’s leadership in concussion care and rehabilitation

🧠 Whether you're a healthcare provider, school official, coach, or parent—this conversation offers critical insight into how early education, follow-up, and advocacy are helping children heal and thrive after brain injury.

✅ Subscribe for more inspiring episodes exploring the future of pediatric care and innovation in children’s health.

#PediatricCare #ConcussionRecovery #ArkansasChildrens #TraumaticBrainInjury #ReturnToLearn #BrainHealth #TBIRecovery #ConcussionAwareness #ChildrensHospital #PediatricRehab #Nursing #PedsPodcast #NeuroRehab #HealthcareInnovation