By Tia Vierling
An injury on the field, pitch, or court, whether game or career-ending, should not be taken lightly. On a campus as active as that of Colorado College, injuries are an unfortunate fact of life. A frisbee player might twist an ankle; a rugby player might get a concussion. However, CC offers a myriad of different resources for club and intramural athletes with injuries — and for the student body as a whole.
One of the best resources available to injured athletes is Dillon Campbell, CC’s Campus Recreation Athletic Trainer. On any given day, including weekends, Campbell can be found in a small office in the basement of El Pomar Sports Center guiding students through strength and rehabilitation exercises. As a point of contact on campus for injured athletes, Campbell is willing and able to offer support before, during, and after injuries occur.
Another excellent resource for maintaining health is Colorado College Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS). Staffed by student Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), CCEMS often provides a first response for students in need — some of whom need help on the field. “CCEMS attends every club game,” Delaney Kenyon ’22, student and CCEMS EMT-IV, explained. On campus, CCEMS is constantly working from a peer perspective to keep athletes safe and respond quickly should injury befall students.
The Student Health Center also acts as a resource for injured students. A brief visit can provide more information about what steps a student should take after being hurt. Furthermore, while the Health Center may be helpful during the initial stages of the injury, CC offers additional resources to assist students during recovery. Campus Safety offers vehicle service to injured students even during the day, which many students may not know. An athlete on crutches can call the non-emergency Campus Safety line to ask for a ride to and from any location on campus both during and outside of normal Safe Ride hours.
Despite the variety of resources available for injured athletes, there may seem to be a lack of assistance for concussed students. Concussions received from skiing accidents, club sports, or seemingly less risky activities, such as incidental concussions received from running into an overhang on a hike, can severely impact students’ ability to complete coursework and keep learning. Concussions, as injuries that both impact a student’s mental capacity and introduce unfortunate physical symptoms, stand out from many injuries as having a direct effect on schoolwork.
Luckily, CC’s own Accessibility Resources is available to provide students with assistance in this regard. According to the Accessibility Resources website, one of their primary areas of service is in “support[ing] students with temporary medical conditions, such as concussions and other injuries.” Connecting with Accessibility Resources after an injury allows for a wide variety of options for concussed and injured students, from offering accommodations to helping students to manage issues related to their injuries.
While injuries are not enjoyable, CC offers quite a few resources to assist club and intramural athletes, as well as other students, with the healing process. Whether you have a twisted ankle or a concussion, CC provides many services to help students take the healthiest options possible when recovering from an injury. These resources are everywhere — if you know where to look.