Ohio’s law that spells out what athletic trainers can and cannot do hasn’t been updated for 30 years. But anew billthat does just that is close to becoming law.
Most of the more than 2300 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) says 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 says.
The bill overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate. It’s now heading to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.