S. 2373 — Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act

This section sets forth 13 congressional findings regarding heat-related illnesses (i.e., heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat rash, and muscle breakdown), their symptoms and preventability, over 700 U.S. heat-related deaths from 2004 to 2018 as the leading climate-related cause of death, risks to student athletes in outdoor sports, and the 2018 death of University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair from exertional heatstroke due to delayed treatment despite initial collapse at 81 degrees Fahrenheit and core body temperature reaching 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

This section establishes requirements for institutions of higher education participating in Title IV programs (i.e., federal student aid) and belonging to an athletic association or conference 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 plans for operating automatic external defibrillators and cold water immersion equipment. The plan must (1) include symptom identification and coordination of care for student athletes and be 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) 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 before practical training each year. Institutions must submit annual compliance reports to the Secretary of Education and authorizing committees beginning one year after initial implementation. In developing the plan, institutions must consider Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature guidelines, having an automatic external defibrillator within three minutes of each venue, and including defibrillator locations; facilities undergoing major alterations may adjust requirements.

This section requires each secondary school receiving federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) with a student athletics program 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 the operation and use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and cold water immersion equipment. The plan must (1) include symptom identification and a coordination of care structure, and be visibly posted in locker rooms, athletic training facilities, weight rooms, outdoor sports complexes, and stadiums; (2) be available on the school's athletic program or public website at the start of each academic year; (3) be distributed to local emergency responders; and (4) before 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 Wet Bulb Globe Temperature guidelines for heat stress prevention, AEDs accessible within three minutes of each venue, and AED locations in the plan. Schools must submit annual compliance reports to the Secretary of Education and authorizing committees, beginning one year after initial implementation. Requirements may be adjusted for facilities undergoing major physical alterations.

This section directs the Secretary of Education to inform secondary schools, local educational agencies, state educational agencies, and institutions of higher education (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) 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.