H.R. 4517 — Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act

This section states congressional findings on heat-related illnesses (i.e., heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat rash, and muscle breakdown), including their symptoms (e.g., confusion, seizures, elevated body temperature); over 700 heat-related deaths in the United States from 2004 to 2018; rising risks to student athletes from outdoor sports; and the 2018 death of University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair from exertional heatstroke after inadequate treatment despite initial collapse in 81-degree Fahrenheit heat, a 90-minute delay in care (exceeding the advised 30-minute window), and a core body temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit upon hospital arrival.

This section establishes requirements for institutions of higher education participating in Higher Education Act programs and belonging to an athletic association or conference to develop and implement, not later than one year after enactment and in consultation with local emergency responders, a venue-specific heat-related illnesses emergency action plan that includes provisions for automatic external defibrillators and cold water immersion equipment. The plan must (1) include symptom identification and coordination of care for student athletes and be visibly posted in locker rooms, athletic training facilities, weight rooms, outdoor sports complexes, and stadiums; (2) be posted on the institution's athletic or public website at the start of each academic year and distributed to local emergency responders; and (3) before each academic year's practical training, be distributed to and practiced in-person by student athletes, certified athletic trainers, team physicians, athletic training students, athletic administrators, coaches, institutional safety personnel, and legal counsel. Institutions must submit annual compliance reports to the Secretary of Education and authorizing committees beginning one year after initial implementation, consider Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature guidelines and accessible AEDs (within three minutes of venues), and may adjust requirements for facilities undergoing major alterations.

This section establishes a requirement, as a condition of receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, for each secondary school with a student athletics program to develop and implement a venue-specific heat-related illnesses emergency action plan within one year of enactment, in consultation with local emergency responders, including provisions for the operation and use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and cold water immersion equipment. The plan must (1) include a symptom identification structure and coordination of care for student athletes and be visibly posted in each locker room, athletic training facility, weight room, outdoor sports complex, and stadium; (2) be made available on the school's athletic program or public website at the beginning of each academic year; (3) be distributed to local emergency responders; and (4) before the start of practical training each academic year, be distributed to and practiced in-person by student athletes, certified athletic trainers, team physicians, athletic training students, athletic administrators, coaches, institutional safety personnel, legal counsel, and other relevant individuals. Schools must consider recommendations such as using the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature index, ensuring an AED within three minutes of each sporting venue, and including AED locations in the plan; requirements may be adjusted for facilities undergoing major physical alterations. Schools must submit annual compliance reports to the Secretary of Education and authorizing committees, beginning one year after initial implementation.

This section directs the Secretary of Education to inform secondary schools, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, and institutions of higher education about federal funds available (1) to prevent heat-related illnesses among students and faculty, (2) to develop heat-related illness prevention training, and (3) to acquire equipment for treating such illnesses. In this section, those terms have the meanings given in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.