EMS at high school football games is not MSHAA requirement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

As the new high school football season kicks off Friday night, fans may notice an EMS presence at some games.

But, the Missouri State Highschool Activities Association said there is not enough resources in the state to mandate EMS personnel or athletic trainers at all high school football games.

"The state association would love nothing more than emergency medical personnel to be at the site of every single football game in the state of Missouri," MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Greg Stahl said.

Stahl said while MSHSAA would love to have them present, there just aren't enough resources available in the State of Missouri to make that a reality.

"The reality of this is that EMS services across the state are usually arranged by county," said Stahl. "On any given Friday night we may have a number of games being played in a certain county that's more than the number of EMS Staff or ambulance that are able to be at that Friday night Football game."

Stahl said while there is not a mandate, the reason you often see them at games anyway is because they chose to volunteer or have a contract set with the school district to attend. Stahl believes it is incredibly helpful whenever EMS are available to attend games.

"We feel better about it in the case there was a critical situation," Stahl said. "We have trained medical emergency response people here with us tonight (at Adkins Field in Jefferson City), in addition to what might possibly also one maybe an athletic trainer that's there."

However, athletic trainers are also not mandated by MSHAA.

"Our sports medicine advisory committee would love to see every member school in Missouri have an athletic trainer at their games and at their practices," Stahl said.

He said it is good in theory, but would not be feasible in practice, at this time.

"We have over 590 member schools in Missouri, there are not 590 certified athletic trainers in the state of Missouri," Stahl said. "We have a shortage right now of athletic trainers in general."

Stahl said schools who can afford athletic trainers are struggling to staff positions due to the demand, but added that some can't afford them.

"I know right now there is a struggle statewide, of even finding enough athletic trainers to serve those schools that are in a position, you know, to be able to financially afford them," Stahl said.