STUDENT CONCUSSIONS AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST | Policy Manual

5340.01 - STUDENT CONCUSSIONS AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST

It is the policy of the School Board that the risk of student injury be considered and addressed in the planning and implementation of every student activity sponsored by the Board. The Board therefore directs and requires that before beginning practice for an interscholastic sports activity, including cheerleading, the coach of the activity shall provide the parent of each student-athlete in grades 5-12 and each student-athlete in grades 5-12 with the information sheet on Concussion and Head Injury and acknowledgment form issued by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and shall require the student’s parent and the student to sign and return the form acknowledging the receipt of the information from the IDOE on Concussion and Head Injury. If the coach of an intramural sports activity elects to or is required to comply with I.C. 20-34-7, the coach shall provide the parent of each student-athlete in grades 5-12 and each student-athlete in grades 5-12 with the information sheet on Concussion and Head Injury and acknowledgment form issued by the IDOE and shall require the student’s parent and the student to sign and return to the coach the form acknowledging the receipt of the information from the IDOE on Concussion and Head Injury.

The Board also directs and requires that before beginning practice for an interscholastic sports activity, cheerleading, marching band, a drama or musical, or other extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest as determined by the IDOE, the coach of the activity, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, or sponsor of the extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest shall provide to each applicable student and parent or legal guardian (unless the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) the information sheet on Sudden Cardiac Arrest and acknowledgment form issued by the IDOE and require the applicable student and parent or legal guardian (unless the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) to sign and return to the coach, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, or extracurricular activity sponsor the form acknowledging the receipt of the information from the IDOE on Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Additionally, the Board directs and requires that before beginning practice for any interscholastic or intramural sports activity, including cheerleading, the coach of the activity shall provide the parent of each student participating in the activity and the student participating in the activity with the information sheet on Concussion and Head Injury and acknowledgment form issued by the IDOE and shall require the student’s parent and the student to sign and return to the coach the form acknowledging the receipt of the information from the IDOE on Concussion and Head Injury. Before beginning practice for any interscholastic or intramural sports activity, including cheerleading, the coach of the activity shall provide the parent or legal guardian of each student participating in the activity (unless the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) and the student participating in the activity with the information sheet on Sudden Cardiac Arrest and acknowledgment form issued by the IDOE and shall require the student’s parent or legal guardian (unless the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) and the student to sign and return to the coach the form acknowledging the receipt of the information from the IDOE on Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

The coach, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, extracurricular activity sponsor, or other official designated by the student's school shall maintain an original of each applicable signed acknowledgment form for each student and shall not allow the applicable student to participate in the activity until the signed acknowledgment form(s) from the parent (as required above) and applicable student is/are properly executed and returned.

A student-athlete in grades 5-12 who participates in an interscholastic sport, including cheerleading, and is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from play at the time of the injury and may not return to play until the student has been seen and evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries, the coach receives a written clearance from the licensed healthcare provider who evaluated the student-athlete that the student can safely return to participation in the sport or activity, and not less than twenty-four (24) hours have passed since the student was removed from play.

Additionally, the Board directs and requires that:

A student-athlete of any age who participates in any interscholastic or intramural sports activity, including cheerleading, and is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from play at the time of the injury and may not return to play until the student has been seen and evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries, the coach receives a written clearance from the licensed healthcare provider who evaluated the student-athlete that the student can safely return to participation in the sport or activity, and not less than twenty-four (24) hours have passed since the student was removed from play.
The Athletic Director shall maintain the original of the written clearance from the health care provider for the student-athlete to return to play for no less than three (3) years after the student reaches age eighteen (18).

A student participating in an interscholastic sports activity, cheerleading, marching band, a drama or musical, or other extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, as determined by the IDOE, who is suspected, as determined by a game official, coach of the applicable student's team, licensed athletic trainer, physician assistant, advanced practiced registered nurse, licensed physician, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, or other official designated by the student's school, of experiencing a symptom of sudden cardiac arrest in a practice for an above activity shall be removed from practice or play at the time that the symptom is identified, and the parent or legal guardian of the student shall be notified of the student's symptoms (unless the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor). A student who has been removed from practice or play may not return to practice or play until the coach, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, extracurricular activity sponsor, or other official designated by the student's school has received verbal permission from a parent or legal guardian of the student (or from the student if the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) for the student to return to practice and play. Within twenty-four (24) hours after giving verbal permission for the student to return to practice and play, the parent or legal guardian (or the student if the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) shall provide the coach, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, or other official designated by the student's school with a written statement that the student has permission to return to practice and play.

Additionally, the Board directs and requires that:

A student-athlete of any age who participates in any interscholastic or intramural sports activity, including cheerleading, and is suspected of experiencing a symptom of sudden cardiac arrest in a practice or game shall be removed from practice or play at the time that the symptom is identified, and the parent or legal guardian of the student-athlete shall be notified of the student athlete's symptoms (unless the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor). A student-athlete who has been removed from practice or play may not return to practice or play until the coach has received verbal permission from a parent or legal guardian of the student (or from the student if the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) for the student to return to practice and play. Within twenty-four (24) hours after giving verbal permission for the student-athlete to return to practice and play, the parent or legal guardian (or the student if the student is at least age eighteen (18) or is an emancipated minor) shall provide the coach with a written statement that the student has permission to return to practice and play.
The Athletic Director shall maintain the original of the written statement that the student has permission to return to practice and play for no less than three (3) years after the student reaches age eighteen (18).
Each coach of an interscholastic or intramural sports activity, including cheerleading, shall receive training on concussions, sudden cardiac arrest (including the symptoms), heat-related medical issues, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator.