3422 Student Sports - Concussion, Head Injuries, Sudden Cardiac Arrest
STUDENT SPORTS – CONCUSSION, HEAD INJURY AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST
Concussion and Head Injury
The Stanwood-Camano Board of Directors recognizes that concussions and head injuries are commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and other recreational activities. The Board acknowledges that the risks of catastrophic injuries or death are significant when a student with a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.
Therefore, all competitive sport activities in the District will be identified by the administration and all appropriate District staff, coaches, and team volunteers will complete training as required in the District procedure to recognize the signs and symptoms of concussions or other head injuries. Additionally, all coaches will comply with Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (“WIAA”) guidelines for the management of concussions and head injuries.
Consistent with Washington law, the District will utilize guidelines developed by the WIAA and other pertinent information and forms to inform and educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, including the dangers associated with a student continuing to participate in athletic activities after she/he suffers a concussion or head injury.
The District will annually distribute a head injury and concussion information sheet to all parents and guardians of student participants in competitive sport activities.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The Board of Directors further recognizes that sudden cardiac arrest is reported to be the leading cause of death in young athletes. The board will work with the WIAA and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology to make available an online pamphlet that provides student athletes, their parents/guardians and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest. To this end, the district will maintain a link on its website to the OSPI website where the online pamphlet will be posted.
Annually, prior to participating in an interscholastic athletic activity, students and their parent/guardian must review the online pamphlet and return a signed statement to the school documenting their review. This form may be combined with the annually distributed head injury and concussion information sheet referenced above.
The board will also work with the WIAA and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches. Every three years, prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity, all coaches will complete the online program and provide a certificate of completion to the district.
All coaches, including volunteers, will complete training as required in the district procedure. Additionally, all coaches will comply with Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) guidelines for the management of sudden cardiac arrest.
Prior to their first use of school facilities, all private nonprofit youth programs must provide a written statement of compliance with this policy in regard to sudden cardiac arrest with proof of insurance as required by RCW 4.24.660.
Cross References:
- Policy 3412 Automated External Defibrillators
- Policy 3418 Response to Student Injury or Illness
- Policy 4260 Use of School Facilities
- Legal References:
- RCW 4.24.660 Liability of school districts under contract with youth programs
Management Resources:
- 2015 June Policy Issue
- 2014 August Policy Issue
- 2009 August Policy Issue
Adoption date: 08.05.14
Stanwood-Camano School District
Revised: 05.01.18