Legislation that would establish standards for preventing sudden cardiac arrest and death in student athletes has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for its consideration after unanimously passing the House 199-0 on Oct. 3, 2011.
House Bill 1610 would require any student athlete who exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest to obtain clearance by a licensed physician or certified registered nurse practitioner before being allowed to resume playing sports. If the student was referred to a cardiologist for evaluation, the written clearance would need to be provided by the cardiologist.
According to the bill, any student who exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while playing sports should be removed from play by the coach. In addition, if a student is known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest prior to an athletic activity, the student should not be allowed to participate.
Other highlights of the bill include:
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Department of Education would develop guidelines and other relevant materials to educate students, their parents, and their coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
- A student participating in an athletic activity and the student’s parent or guardian would be required to sign and return to the student’s school an acknowledgment of receipt and review of an information sheet on sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs.
- On an annual basis, coaches would be required to complete a sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by an approved provider.
This proposed legislation would also establish penalties for coaches who violate its requirements, including suspension from coaching for a certain amount of time or permanently, depending on how many violations have occurred.
HB 1610 was introduced by Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery).