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Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act
12/15/2023, 3:59 PM
Summary of Bill HR 4256
The main provisions of the bill include requiring schools to have a heat illness prevention and response plan in place for student athletes, as well as ensuring that coaches and other staff members receive training on how to recognize and respond to heat-related illnesses. The bill also calls for the establishment of guidelines for monitoring and assessing the environmental conditions during athletic activities, such as temperature and humidity levels.
Additionally, the bill seeks to increase awareness among student athletes, parents, and coaches about the risks of heat-related illnesses and the importance of proper hydration and rest during physical exertion. It also calls for the development of protocols for cooling and rehydrating athletes who show signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Overall, the Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act aims to improve the safety and well-being of student athletes by implementing measures to prevent heat-related fatalities and ensure that proper precautions are taken during athletic activities.
Congressional Summary of HR 4256
Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act
This bill requires each institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs and is a member of an athletic association or athletic conference to develop and implement a venue-specific heat illness emergency action plan for operating and using automatic external defibrillators and cold-water immersion equipment.
Specifically, each plan must include a symptom identification structure and a coordination of care plan for student athletes exhibiting signs of heat illness that is posted in each locker room, athletic training facility, weight room, and outdoor sports complex and stadium.
Additionally, each plan must
- be made available on the athletic program website or public website of the IHE at the beginning of each academic year;
- be distributed to local emergency responders; and
- be distributed to, and rehearsed in person, by specific individuals (e.g., student athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers) before the start of in-person training for each academic year.
The bill also requires an IHE to submit an annual report that demonstrates compliance with this bill's requirements.
