Transcript Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act

Diana L. Malone, Ph.D.
Training & Consultation Coordinator
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
David G. McBain, CAA, ATC, LAT
Director of Athletics
West Allegheny School District
Signed into law on May 30, 2012
Effective on July 30, 2012
Purpose of the legislation is to ensure the
safety of student athletes.
1) Includes certain requirements for:
 Pennsylvania schools
 Personnel who supervise schools’ student athletes
 Medical personnel who support them
2) Establishes standards for preventing sudden
cardiac arrest and death in student athletes.
Nothing about scholastic sports is
life and death — at least it shouldn’t be.
Yet every year, for about 100 teenage
athletes, it is.
FACTS: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Fact Sheet
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is NOT a Heart Attack.
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A heart attack may cause SCA, but they are not the same. A heart attack,
also called myocardial infarction (MI), is caused by a blockage that stops the
flow of blood to the heart and causes damage to heart muscle. SCA is a
malfunction in the heart’s electrical system, causing the heart to suddenly
stop beating. 1 American Heart Association

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is when the heart abruptly and unexpectedly
stops beating, resulting in no blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.
2 National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that
every year approximately 300,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests
occur in the United States. 3 Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
About 2,000 patients under 25 years of age die of SCA. 4 American Academy
of Pediatrics
In 1999 in Pennsylvania, 154 individuals under the age of 25 died
due to SCA. 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
 Although SCA happens unexpectedly, some people have
symptoms, such as dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness of
breath or difficulty breathing, racing or fluttering heartbeat
(palpitations), fainting (syncope), fatigue, weakness, nausea,
vomiting or chest pains.1 American Heart Association, ,4 American Academy of Pediatrics ,6 Mayo Clinic
Risks of continuing to play or practice after experiencing one or
more symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
 When the heart stops, oxygenated blood stops flowing to the
brain and other vital organs. Death or permanent brain damage
can occur in only a few minutes.6 Mayo Clinic
Most people who have SCA die from it.1 American Heart Association
Requirements of the Law
PA Governor Tom Corbett

Section 1. Name
“Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act P.L. 574, No. 59, Cl24.”
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Section 2. Definitions
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Section 3. Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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Section 4. Effective Date July 30, 2012
Section 2. Definitions
“Athletic Activities”
What activities are covered?
(1) Interscholastic athletics
(2) Contest or competition
sponsored by or associated
with a “school entity” includes cheerleading, club
sports or activities sponsored by school affiliated
organizations
(3) Noncompetitive cheerleading
(4) Practices and scrimmages
Section 2. Definitions
“Interscholastic athletics”
All athletic contests or competitions conducted
between or among school entities situated in
counties of the second class, second class A,
third class, fourth class, fifth class, sixth class,
seventh class and eighth class.
DOH Section 1602-A of the Act of March 10, 1949
(P.L. 30, No. 14) Public School Code of 1949
Section 2. Definitions
“Department”
Department of Health of the
Commonwealth (DOH)
Section 2. Definitions
“School Entity”
A public school, school district, nonpublic school
or private school in this Commonwealth other
than a private or nonpublic school which elects
not to become a member of the association.
DOH Section 1602-A of the Act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14) Public
School Code of 1949
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Educational Materials
Informational Meeting
Removal From Play
Training Course
Penalties
Other Youth Activities
Construction
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(a)(1) Educational Materials
Department of Health, PA Department of
Education websites offer guidelines & other
relevant educational materials for students,
parents, and coaches about the nature and
warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
 PA Department of Heath
www.health.state.pa.us

PA Department of Education
www.education.state.pa.us
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(a)(1) Educational Materials continued
Students, parents, and coaches must be educated
about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac
arrest including the risks associated with continuing to
play or practice after experiencing one or more
symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, including:
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Fainting
Difficulty breathing
Chest pains
Dizziness
Abnormal racing heart rate.
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(a)(2) Educational Materials

The Department of Education may utilize
existing materials developed by other
organizations (i.e., Parent Heart Watch and
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes)
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(a)(3) Educational Materials
Parents and student athletes must sign
and return acknowledgement
of receipt and review of
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
symptoms and warning signs
Information Sheet each year
prior to participation by the
student in an athletic activity.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health
Athlete/Parent/Guardian Sudden Cardiac
Arrest Symptoms and Warning Signs
Information Sheet and Acknowledgement of
Receipt and Review Form which has been
reviewed and adopted by the PIAA – CIPPE
Form.
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(b) Informational Meeting
 School entity may hold Informational Meetings
prior to the start of each athletic season for all
ages of competitors regarding:
• Symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac
arrest,
• In addition to students, parents, coaches and other
school officials, Informational Meetings may include
physicians, pediatric cardiologists, and athletic
trainers.
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(c) Removal from Play
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(c)(1) Removal from Play
 Student athlete exhibits
signs or symptoms of
sudden cardiac arrest
shall be removed by the
Coach from participating
in an athletic activity.
Subject to paragraph (c) (3).
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(c)(1) Removal from Play
 Determination may be made by game official,
coach, certified athletic
trainer, physician,
physical therapist,
or other designated
by school entity.
Subject to paragraph (c) (3).
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(c)(2) Removal from Play
 If student is known to have exhibited signs or
symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at any
time prior to or following an athletic activity,
the student shall be prevented from
participating in an athletic activity.
Subject to paragraph (c) (3).
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(c)(3) Removal from Play
A student removed or prevented from
participating in an athletic activity under
paragraph (c)(1) or(2) shall not return to
participation until the student is evaluated and
cleared for return to participation in writing by a
licensed physician, certified registered nurse
practitioner, or cardiologist.
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(c)(4) Removal from Play
To help determine whether a
student is ready to return to
play, the licensed physician or
certified registered nurse practitioner
may consult any
other licensed or
certified medical
professionals.
Medical Clearance Form
PIAA – CIPPE Form.
[Section 8: Re-Certification By Licensed
Physician of Medicine or Osteopathic
Medicine]
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(d) Training Course
 (d)(1) All Coaches must complete sudden
cardiac arrest training course offered by
approved provider.
(Beginning July 30, 2012 for 2012-2013 school year)

(d)(2) A coach shall not coach any athletic
activity until completing the required training
course.
Certification Training for Coaches and Medical
Professionals
Provider(s) approved by PA Department of Health
1.
PA Department of Health - Sudden Cardiac
Arrest Education and Information Sheet
must be reviewed and signed. (hyperlink is the
abbreviated training)
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(e) Penalties for Coaches (Required July 30, 2014)
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(e) Penalties for Coaches
(1) 1st violation – Suspension from coaching for
remainder of season
(2) 2nd violation – Suspension from coaching for
remainder of current season and for the next
season
(3) 3rd violation – Permanent suspension from
coaching any athletic activity
Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(f) Other Youth Activities
The sponsors of youth
athletic activities not
Associated with a school
entity are encouraged to
follow these guidelines.

Section 3 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention
(g) Construction
Nothing in this act shall be construed to:
(1) abridge or limit any rights provided under a
collective bargaining agreement or Public
Employee Relations Act.
(2) create, establish, expand, reduce, contract
or eliminate any civil liability on the part of any
school entity or school employee.
Section 4 Effective Date
The “Sudden Cardiac
Arrest Prevention Act”
shall take effect on:
July 30, 2012.
PSBA No. 123_2 Sudden Cardiac Arrest
PSBA No. 123-AR-3-PIAA Forms SCA
PSBA No. 123 Interscholastic Athletics
PSBA No. 122 Extra Curricular Activities
PSBA No. 123-AR-6 Athletic Safety
ACTION PAPER
 Implementation of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Prevention
Resources
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AIU Mediasite www.tinyurl.com/ACT59SCA
On Demand viewing of PPT and all
attachments, forms, and links
PA Department of Heath www.health.state.pa.us
PA Department of Ed www.education.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
(PIAA) www.piaa.org
PA School Boards Association (PSBA)
www.psba.org
Thank You
Diana L. Malone, Ph.D.
Training and Consultation
Coordinator/Interagency
Coordinator
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
[email protected]
Phone: 412-394-4932
Fax: 412-394-1340
David G. McBain, CAA, ATC, LAT
Director of Athletics
West Allegheny School District
Chair, WPIAL Sports Medicine
Advisory Committee
Member, PIAA Sports Medicine
Advisory Committee
[email protected]
Phone: 724-695-5246