Protecting Student Athletes From Sudden Cardiac Arrest

On April 14, 2011, Simon’s Heart visited twelve lawmakers in Harrisburg to pitch the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act. Representative Mike Vereb introduced the law, also known as Act 59, in June 2011. On May 30, 2012, Governor Tom Corbett signed it, making Pennsylvania the first state in the country to protect students from sudden cardiac arrest.

Following the passage of Act 59, Simon’s Heart began reaching out to lawmakers and organizations in other states. As a result, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Prevention Act has become law in seventeen states. See how your state is doing, visit our Legislative Map.

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act has three primary components:

(1) Parents of student athletes in the public school system must review and sign an information sheet about the warning signs and conditions of sudden cardiac arrest.

(2) Coaches must take an annual online training course about sudden cardiac arrest.

(3) Coaches must remove a player from competition who exhibits symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, and the player may not return until cleared by a licensed medical professional.

This law is budget neutral and is the best way to raise awareness about the risk and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. It also promotes discussions around heart screenings, CPR, and AEDs.

Toolkit

SCA Prevention Act Model Language
Model Letter of Support
Talking Points for SCA Act

Model Language for State Association

Coaches – Watch the Coaches Training Video and a message from Philadelphia’s City Six NCAA basketball coaches.

Media Coverage – Read stories, interviews and articles on Act 59.