Hello my name is Jessie Shanks, MS, LAT, ATC.

I am a NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer and Licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine. Graduating from Frostburg State University I obtained a BS in Health & Physical Education and concentrations in Athletic Training and Health Fitness along with a MS in Human Performance also from FSU. From 1999-2001 I was the Certified Athletic Trainer for Union Memorial Sports Medicine and River Hill High School, in MD, splitting my time working at a physical therapy clinic in the morning then going to the high school in the afternoon.

My time as Athletic trainer at Forest Park began in August of 2001. I was honored as a recipient of the 2014 Vito Perriello, Secondary Athletic Trainer of the Year Award. In 2025 I was the recipient of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Associaition's Service Award and National Athletic Trainers' Association's Servant's Heart Award. As a member of the Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Committee, we are dedicated to recognizing the unique concerns and responsibilities associated with the secondary school athletic training practice setting, and to developing and providing materials and information that may enhance the effectiveness and marketability of athletic trainers working in this setting.

Woodbridge, Va/ August 7, 2023 – Forest Park High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its Bruins athletics program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.

Forest Park is honored to receive this 2nd Team recognition from NATA. We remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices, and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship, and good health. Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players.

“The health and safety of student-athletes is critical as it has both immediate and long-term effects,” said NATA President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC. “NATA created the ‘Safe Sports School Award’ to recognize and champion schools nationwide that are committed to enhancing safety in sports. We are proud to see the list of award recipients grow exponentially each year as schools see the immense value in holding themselves to best practices and policies that ensure a high standard of athlete care.”

In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, as Forest Park did, athletic programs must do the following:

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
• Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
• Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
• Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
• Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
• Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
• Provide or facilitate injury intervention
• Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
• Provide or facilitate psycho-social consultation and nutritional counseling/education
• Be sure athletes and parents are educated about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

Kenneth P. May, DC, LAc

Doctor of Chiropractic, Outpatient Therapy

Sentara Century Therapy Center

2280 Opitz Blvd Suite 210, Woodbridge Va 22191

Main office: 703-523-1680

Fax: 571-589-2009

[email protected]

Understanding Virginia's Athletic Training Law

What Happens When The Athlete Is Injured?
All injured athletes should see their Athletic Trainer(AT) as soon as they can to get an accurate assessment of the injury. The AT will then give the athlete instructions on how to properly care for the injury. The ATwill also let the athlete, coach and parents know at this time the extent of the injury and when the athlete will be able to return to play.

Most injuries can be treated with out seeing a physician, which will decrease the time missed by the athlete. A physician is always going to ere on the side of caution and may tell an athlete to sit out for two weeks for a simple sprain. This is done because the athlete may not follow up with the physician. If any type of fracture or major sprain/strain is suspected, we will suggested seeing a doctor. Working with the parent, coach and physician helps the athlete to return to play sooner.

• Taping will be done for injuries that require it only.
• Ankle braces are recommended for sprains, since the tape stretches out quickly and becomes loose.
• Rehabilitation for the injured area is also required prior to taping.
• There is NO GAME DAY ONLY or show boat taping, which in most cases is illegal and can cause further injury.

What Happens Before An Athlete Can Return To Play?
According to Prince William County Guidelines: All athletes are responsible for furnishing a doctors note in order to return to play after seeing a physician.
The doctors note must contain the following information:

• diagnosis of the injury of illness
• any restrictions or limitations
• return to play date.

In the event the attending physician determines that an injured athlete is in suitable condition to resume participation in athletics, the athlete shall be reevaluated by the certified athletic trainer(AT) prior to resumption of activity. If it is the judgment of the AT that the student athlete is not in suitable physical condition to resume full participation, a restricted participation schedule will be formulated by the AT to allow for additional recovery/healing, and progressive return to full participation.

In the event there is a disagreement with the judgment of the AT after the reevaluation, the student athlete will not participate beyond the AT's recommendations until appropriate communication can be established between the Team Physician, AT and attending physician, and an agreement between the treating physician and the Sports Medicine Team is made.

Doctors notes received the day of a contest, with the AT approval, will clear the athlete to participate in the next practice. The athlete must return to participation in a full practice setting before playing in a game.

Doctors notes are also required for contagious illness and infections such as pneumonia, strep, MRSA or staph and oral surgery, etc.

These guidelines coincide with the VHSL Health Care Policy listed below.

VHSL RULES REGARDING RETURN TO PLAY
Passed by the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) Executive Committee on April 27, 2001.

• Parents have the ultimate authority to exclude their child from competition, but cannot overrule the exclusion requirement of a physician acting in an official capacity or a team or tournament certified athletic trainer.
• The coach has the authority to exclude a member of their team from competition, but cannot overrule the exclusion requirement of a physician acting in an official capacity or a team or tournament certified athletic trainer.
• A physician acting in an official capacity has the authority to exclude any competitor from competition. No one, including the team or tournament certified athletic trainer, can overrule the physician.
• The team or tournament certified athletic trainer should make it clear when evaluating an injured athlete for return to competition whether he or she is recommending the athlete not return or requiring that the athlete not return. Coaches may elect to reintroduce a competitor against a recommendation but not a requirement.
• If the team or tournament certified athletic trainer observes an injured athlete continuing to compete against his or her requirement that the athlete not compete, the certified athletic trainer shall notify an official that competition must be stopped until the injured athlete has left the competition.
• In disagreements between the tournament and team certified athletic trainers, the team certified athletic trainer has the final authority.

Medication Recommendations

The Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) recommends that if inhalers are used during competition, they must be prescribed and used as directed.

Dr. Richard Layfield, MD of NOVA Spine & Sport is our team physician,
when calling ask for him and tell the receptionist you are a FP athlete. You can also ask for Melissa Haug, PA-C.
Office: 703-490-1112
14605 Potomac Branch Dr, Suite 300, Woodbridge, VA 22191

https://www.novaorthospine.com

Kenneth P. May, DC, LAc
Doctor of Chiropractic, Outpatient Therapy

Sentara Century Therapy Center
2280 Opitz Blvd Suite 210, Woodbridge Va 22191
Main office: 703-523-1680
Fax: 571-589-2009
[email protected]

Energy Drinks per PWCS

In an effort to support safe participation, PWCS does not support the use of energy drinks by athletes. Athletes are prohibited from the use of energy drinks for any reason, especially for the purpose of re-hydration before or after exercise. Fluid replacement drinks or drinks used to replenish body fluid after exercise are defined as drinks that replace energy and electrolytes to assist the body in recovering from exercise. Fluid replacement drinks are not classified as energy drinks. Some common examples of fluid replacement drinks are Gatorade and Powerade.

The penalty for violation of this rule will be established by the athletic departments at each of the individual high schools.

Other important information regarding Athletic Guidelines can be found on the VHSL website at http://www.vhsl.org/medicine.htm

• It is a rapidly progressing bacteria that attacks the soft tissue area of the skin and can become systemic by entering the blood stream which endangers joints and vital organs

Prince William County Schools Concussion Education

All student athletes and a parent or guardian are required to complete annual concussion education as required by Virginia law. More information can be found in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Regulation 759-1. Student athletes must complete the concussion education with a parent or guardian.

Home Care After a Concussion
More information can be found on the Virginia Concussion Initiative website, including the following documents. 

We recommend the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic if you need to see a specialist. 703-970-6427.
Let them know you are a Forest Park student-athlete. inova.org/sportsconcussion 

Contact: Jessie Shanks

Implementing Perry Weather for Consistent Decision-Making

After adopting Perry Weather, all athletic trainers and coaches in Prince William County Public Schools now use the same lightning detection and warning system, ensuring consistent decisions across the entire district.

Dr. Grimm shared an example of a game where the sky was illuminated by lightning, but it was challenging to determine the lightning’s distance with the naked eye. Without Perry Weather, they might have had to empty the entire stadium. However, with Perry Weather, they were confident that the lightning was not within the 10-mile radius, allowing them to continue playing.

Automating Lightning Alerts and Notifications

When lightning strikes within 10 miles, Perry Weather automatically sounds sirens across the stadium or field, warning players, coaches, and fans of the nearby lightning. Coaches, trainers, and anyone on the platform also receive instant notifications on their phones when lightning is detected within the 10-mile policy range, along with clear instructions on what to do next.

Here is an example of the Perry Weather warning system siren sound:

After a strike is detected, a 30-minute countdown timer begins, resetting to 30 minutes if more strikes are detected. Once the timer reaches 0, an all-clear message sounds over the sirens, and mobile notifications are sent to trainers and coaching staff, indicating that it is safe to resume activities. This automated system eliminates the need for sending multiple text messages or communicating via radio, reducing stress on athletic trainers during lightning delays and ensuring protocols are followed properly.

Navigating VHSL Heat Stress Policies Without the Headache

Prince William County Public Schools is part of the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which has guidelines for managing heat stress during outdoor activities using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). Athletic trainers must measure WBGT and monitor readings to ensure practices are conducted safely. Ranges determine the need for shortened practices, additional water breaks, or, in some cases, the cancellation of outdoor practices.

Previously, Ashley Ausborn, the Coordinator of Sports Medicine for the district and a former athletic trainer, and other athletic trainers in PWCS used handheld WBGT devices to take readings. They then manually compared the readings to a chart provided by VHSL and informed coaches about necessary practice alterations. This process was cumbersome, inefficient, and challenging to manage.

Automated WBGT Readings and Notifications With Perry Weather

WBGT readings are automatically taken from weather stations located on campus every 15 minutes and logged. The platform has integrated VHSL heat stress guidelines, so whenever WBGT readings cross into a zone requiring practice alterations, notifications are automatically sent to all trainers and staff. These notifications include the reading and the necessary alterations based on VHSL heat stress activity guidelines, eliminating the manual and cumbersome process used in the past.

Forest Park's Perry Weather Widget
  

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Monitoring

A WBGT device is a measurement tool that uses ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation from the sun to get a measure that can be used to monitor environmental conditions during exercise. Establishing WBGT guidelines that dictate modifications in activity (work:rest ratios, hydration breaks, equipment worn, length of practice) at given WBGT temperatures play a huge factor in helping to prevent EHS.

As environmental temperature and humidity increase, there is an increase in the heat stress that is placed on the exercising individual. Exercise in the heat causes athletes to rely on evaporation of sweat from the skin as the primary method of dissipating heat that is produced by the working muscles. As humidity increases, the ability to dissipate heat through evaporation is further hindered, thus causing the body to have an increased body temperature, which increases the risk of EHS.

When examining deaths that have occurred from EHS during American football, most of the deaths (~65%) have occurred during the month of August in the eastern quadrant of the US. In addition, over half of the reported deaths occurred during morning practices when humidity levels were high. These results show a direct correlation between increased temperature and humidity levels and risk of mortality as a result of EHS.

PWCS is located in Category 3- Click on the picture to enlarge

 

Activities Guidelines During Extreme Cold Weather

2025 VHSL Physical Form

The VHSL has released a new version of the PPE form dated 04 2025. This must be used in lieu of the old forms starting July 1, 2025, due to new format and questions.

ACE Concussion Form

Form filled out and sent with the athlete to the ER or doctor, after sustaining a concussion.

ACE Care Plan

Form filled out by the physician for the student-athlete to explain any academic adjustments that may be needed for school.

Wrestling Skin Lesion Form 

For any athlete who suspects they have a skin lesion

Football Helmet Acknowledgment Form  For freshman and new athletes to fill out.
 
Lax Helmet Acknowledgment Form For freshman and new athletes to fill out.
 
Heat Illness Prevention

Lightning Safety

Coaches Concussion Information

Concussion Action Plan