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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- As kick-off to football season is quickly approaching, those trained to care for the players are having a training session to help with their safety.

The Adair County Ambulance District and the Truman State Athletic Department are holding a spine boarding and emergency preparation for fall sports training sessions

Through Thursday, emergency personnel that help assist with college and high school games, are learning information on how to handle football related injuries and to work with new types of equipment worn by the players.

"Football we have facemask in the way, and those helmets are pretty stiff," said Truman State University Head Athletic Trainer Michelle Boyd.  "They don't come off very easily. If you pull them off, you're going to jerk the neck. You may injure them further, so one of the things we're discussing is how to remove the facemask, and have access to their face without hunting neck or other body parts."

This is the first year they've had these types of classes.

Boyd hopes in the future this is class they can continue to bring back to the area.