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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION IN SCHOOL SPORTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Marshall, Bennett, Kennedy, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: June 23, 2017

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 91.1

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THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT

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     16-91.1-1. Short title.

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     This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act".

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     16-91.1-2. Definitions.

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     For the purposes of this chapter, the term "youth sport program or activity" means any

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program organized for recreational and/or athletic competition purposes by any school district, or

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by any school participating in Rhode Island Interscholastic League competition, and whose

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participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger.

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     16-91.1-3. School districts' guidelines to be developed and implemented.

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     (a) The department of education and the department of health shall promulgate guidelines

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to inform and educate coaches, teachers, school nurses, youth athletes, and their parents and/or

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guardians about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, including the risks

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associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing the following symptoms: fainting

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or seizures during exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness, racing heart

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rate and extreme fatigue.

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     (b) School districts may use training materials made available at no cost to the school

 

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district by organizations such as Simon's Fund, Parent Heart Watch, Sudden Arrhythmia Death

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Syndromes Foundation, or training materials substantively and substantially similar thereto. The

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department of education shall post links to training materials on its website. All coaches and

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volunteers involved in a youth sport program or activity covered by this chapter must complete a

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training course which may be completed online about the nature and warning signs of sudden

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cardiac arrest, including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing

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symptoms including, fainting or seizures during exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, chest

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pains, dizziness, racing heart rate and extreme fatigue. Training may consist of videos, classes,

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and any other generally accepted mode and medium of providing information.

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     (c) Parents and/or guardians shall be provided with information as to the nature and

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warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest prior to the start of every sport season.

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     (d)(1) A student who, as determined by a game official, coach from the student's team,

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certified athletic trainer, licensed physician or other official designated by the student's school

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entity, exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic

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activity shall be removed by the coach from participation at that time, subject to subsection (3) of

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this section.

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     (2) If a student is known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at

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any time prior to or following an athletic activity, the student shall be prevented from

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participating in an athletic activity, subject to subsection (3) of this section.

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     (3) A student removed or prevented from participating in an athletic activity under

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subsections (1) or (2) of this section shall not return to participation until the student is evaluated

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and cleared for return to participation in writing by a licensed physician, certified registered nurse

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practitioner or cardiologist.

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     (e) All school districts are encouraged to have an athletic trainer, or similarly trained

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person, at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this statute.

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     16-91.1-4. All other youth sports program.

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     All other youth sports programs not specifically addressed by this chapter are encouraged

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to follow the guidance set forth in this chapter for all program participants who are age nineteen

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(19) and younger.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION IN SCHOOL SPORTS

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     This act would address the potential for sudden cardiac arrest among student athletes by

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raising awareness of the symptoms, requiring training for coaches and volunteers concerning

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cardiac arrest, and establishing protocols for students exhibiting certain symptoms.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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