The New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force was created by law in 2010 as a response to the deaths of student athletes in the State. The seven-member task force is “responsible for studying, evaluating and developing recommendations regarding specific measures to enhance the cardiac screening process of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other cardiac conditions in student athletes.”[1]   In March of this year the Task Force issued an informational brochure which was sent to the heads of all school districts in the state with mandatory distribution to parents and guardians of every student athlete.

The brochure provides information on the common causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, warning signs, and screening recommendations in an easy to understand, question-and-answer format. The final section of the brochure addresses AEDs and states:

“The American Academy of Pediatrics/New Jersey Chapter recommends that schools:

·         Have an AED available at every sports event (three minutes total time to reach and return with the AED)

·         Have personnel available who are trained in AED use present at practices and games.

·         Have coaches and athletic trainers trained in basic life support techniques (CPR)

·         Call 911 immediately while someone is retrieving the AED.”

We applaud the effort of the Task Force and happy to see this important informational communication on student athlete cardiac health.

CLICK THE READ MORE BUTTON BELOW FOR A COPY OF THE BROCHURE.

---