Kelso High School’s football program was reminded last fall how quickly a routine game can turn into a medical emergency. During an October matchup against Heritage, quarterback Anders Dahl suffered a dislocated elbow, an injury that required immediate attention. According to reporting by The Columbian, Dahl received treatment, but the incident underscored a growing challenge faced by schools across Southwest Washington: the sharp shortage of certified athletic trainers.

Kelso, Longview, and other districts in Cowlitz County routinely rely on a patchwork of part‑time trainers, volunteer support, and coaches with basic first‑aid credentials. Certified athletic trainers, whose work includes injury prevention, emergency response, and safe return‑to‑play evaluations, remain difficult for districts to recruit and retain. Local administrators have pointed to hiring competition, limited budgets, and the rising cost of required credentials as contributing factors.

For student‑athletes and their families, the shortage increases the pressure on coaches and school staff to respond to injuries that demand specialized expertise. In contact sports such as football, wrestling, and basketball, even routine practice sessions may carry risks that benefit from having certified medical personnel on site. Without them, districts face longer response times, inconsistent care, and heightened worry from parents who depend on schools to maintain safe environments for youth athletics.

In Cowlitz County, most high school programs are operating with significantly fewer trainers than recommended by national sports‑medicine organizations. While some districts have explored contracting with regional health providers, others continue to rely on short‑term staffing solutions that may fluctuate season to season.

Why this matters

School athletics involve hundreds of students across Longview, Kelso, and the surrounding communities. When injuries occur without trained personnel on hand, the consequences can escalate rapidly. Dahl’s injury last October serves as a concrete reminder that emergency‑level incidents are not hypothetical—they happen on local fields, to local kids, during ordinary competition.

As area districts develop their upcoming budgets and staffing plans, the question of how to reliably place qualified athletic trainers on every sideline remains unresolved. For families, coaches, and athletes, the need is immediate, and the stakes are personal.

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