Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

Provides that school districts must require a private nonprofit youth program to provide a statement of compliance with policies for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) awareness, in order to maintain immunity from liability for injuries to youth participating in an activity offered by the program on school property.
Requires the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to develop an online pamphlet that provides youth athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches with information about SCA, and requires athletes and their parents or guardians to certify their review of the pamphlet annually.
Requires the WIAA to make available an existing online SCA prevention program for coaches, and requires coaches to complete the program every three years.

Background:

Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when an electrical disturbance disrupts heart function. Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency; when the heart does not beat correctly, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If not treated immediately with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, chest compressions, or a defibrillator, SCA often results in sudden cardiac death (SCD). Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked.

The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that SCD is the leading nontraumatic cause of death among young athletes. The precise incidence of SCD among high school athletes is unknown, but estimates range from one in 23,000 to one in 300,000. The AHA reports that SCD of athletes can be caused by a variety of cardiovascular diseases, but is most commonly associated with congenital or acquired malformations. A longitudinal study of students 17 to 24 years of age participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association sports showed that the incidence of SCA tended to be higher among blacks than whites, and higher among men than women.

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is a private, nonprofit organization and rule-making body formed in 1905. It consists of nearly 800 member high schools and middle/junior high schools, both public and private, and is divided into nine geographic service districts. The WIAA staff administers policies, rules and regulations and provides other assistance and service to member schools.School District Limited Liability.

As a way to encourage school districts to allow youth programs to use district facilities, in 1999, the Legislature granted districts limited immunity from liability for injuries to youth participating in an activity offered by a private nonprofit group on school property. This immunity applies only if the private nonprofit group provides proof of accident and liability insurance to the school district before the first use of the school facilities and lasts as long as the insurance remains in effect. Beginning in 2009, to maintain immunity, districts also have to require that the private nonprofit group provide a statement of compliance with policies for the management of concussion and head injury in youth sports.

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Summary of Bill:

Statement of Compliance.

In addition to providing proof of insurance and a statement of compliance with policies for the management of concussions and head injuries, school districts must require that a private nonprofit group provide a statement of compliance with policies for SCA awareness, in order to maintain immunity from liability for injuries to youth participating in an activity offered by a private nonprofit group on school property.

Online Pamphlet.

The WIAA must work with member school boards, a nonprofit organization that educates communities about SCA in youth athletes, and the University of Washington Medicine Center (UWMC) for Sports Cardiology to develop and make available an online pamphlet that provides youth athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches with information about SCA. This pamphlet must be posted on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's website and include information on the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs, prevention, and treatment of SCA.

Annually, prior to participating in an interscholastic athletic activity, youth, and their parents or guardians, must sign and return a SCA form stating that the online pamphlet was reviewed.

Online Prevention Program.

The WIAA must work with member school boards, an organization that provides educational training for safe participation in athletic activity, and the UWMC for Sports Cardiology to make available an existing online SCA prevention program for coaches.

Every three years, prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity, coaches must complete the online SCA prevention program and provide a certificate of completion to the school.

Short Title.

The act may be known and cited as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Act.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Some students experience SCA while playing high school sports. The leading cause of death in student athletes is SCA. About 1 in 250 students have a condition that could result in SCA. Families of these students do not always know these students have heart conditions. Sports physicals need to include heart screenings, not just listening to the heart. This is an education bill; it educates students, families and coaches about SCA. The video the coaches must watch is only about 20 minutes long. For minimum cost, this bill will result in maximum benefit. Heart screening, SCA, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation awareness are critical to save lives. This bill will help make more people aware of this information and that ensure children are heart safe to play. If schools have an emergency action plan in place and review SCA information regularly, then they can do everything possible to prevent SCD. If coaches or other students can get a defibrillator to students that have SCA within a few minutes, the chances of survival go way up. Usually, people do not know what to do when a student collapses. They freeze, they do not think to use a defibrillator, even when one is available. Education will save the lives of our kids and others in the community. The WIAA enthusiastically supports this bill. The WIAA has been actively involved in implementation of the Lystedt Law, which requires medical clearance after a concussion. The training and creation of the pamphlet will be free of charge to the schools.

(Opposed) None.