Lewisburg Area School District Policies	Printable version
123.2 Sudden Cardiac Arrest 123.2. SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST The Board recognizes the importance of ensuring the safety of students participating in the district’s athletic programs. This policy has been developed to provide guidance for prevention and recognition of sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes. Athletic activity shall mean all of the following: 1. Interscholastic athletics. 2. An athletic contest or competition, other than interscholastic athletics, that is sponsored by or associated with the school, including cheerleading, club-sponsored sports activities and sports activities sponsored by school-affiliated organizations. 3. Noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or associated with the school. 4. Practices, interschool practices and scrimmages for all athletic activities. Each school year, prior to participation in an athletic activity, every student athlete and his/her parent/guardian shall sign and return the acknowledgement of receipt and review of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Symptoms and Warning Signs Information Sheet. The school shall hold an informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season for all competitors regarding the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. In addition to the student athletes, such meetings may include parents/guardians, coaches, other appropriate school officials, physicians, pediatric cardiologists, and athletic trainers. Removal From Play A student who, as determined by a game official, coach from the student’s team, certified athletic trainer, licensed physician, or other official designated by the district, exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic activity shall be removed by the coach from participation at that time. Any student known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest prior to or following an athletic activity shall be prevented from participating in athletic activities. Return To Play The coach shall not return a student 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. Training All coaches shall annually, prior to coaching an athletic activity, complete the sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by a provider approved by the PA Department of Health. Penalties After July 1, 2013, A coach found in violation of the provisions of this policy related to removal from play and return to play shall be subject to the following penalties: 1. For a first violation, suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season. 2. For a second violation, suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season and for the next season. 3. For a third violation, permanent suspension from coaching any athletic activity. References: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act – 24 P.S. Sec. 5331 et seq. Board Policy – 122, 123, 822