Photos: Care on the sidelines

As temperatures soared into triple digits on the turf at La Verne Damien High, Lee Vining players try to cool off with help from some volunteers during an afternoon game against La Verne Calvary Baptist.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lee Vining High’s Brad Beaver tries to cool off during halftime of a game against Calvary Baptist on a scorching afternoon in La Verne. Beaver was playing only a week after sustaining a head injury in another game -- and without the required written consent of a physician.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

When small-school teams play, there often is little or no medical care available on the sidelines. Here, La Verne Calvary Baptist player Raymond Zambrano finds himself all alone of the sidelines after injuring his knee in an eight-man game against Lee Vining High.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

When Harvard-Westlake High quarterback Max Heltzer was injured in a game against Chaminade, mother Alisa was concerned. But Heltzer is lucky. Harvard-Westlake athletes enjoy some of the best care offered in Southern California, with four athletic trainers assigned to help the team.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Harvard-Westlake High running back Jamias Jones sheds some tears on the bench after sustaining an ankle injury against Chaminade. Even with the best medical care available on the sidelines, there is an emotional toll that comes with an injury.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Harvard-Westlake High athletes enjoy training care that would make some colleges envious. The school employs four certified athletic trainers and has a state-of-the-art training facility. Here athletic trainer Milo Sini checks the neck of Wolverines quarterback Max Heltzer after a game against Chaminade.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Athletic trainer Chaz Kekipi carries Servite High football player Mike Lawn off the field at Cerritos College after Lawn injured his knee on a kick return during a game against Huntington Beach Edison. Kekipi is happy that new rules pertaining to head injuries have taken decision-making away from coaches.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Canoga Park High football player Luis Larios walks off the field after injuring his knee in a game against El Camino Real.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)