Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act
Summary
The Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act aims to protect student athletes from heat-related illnesses by requiring institutions of higher education and secondary schools to develop and implement venue-specific emergency action plans. These plans must include symptom identification, coordination of care, and readily accessible cooling equipment and automatic external defibrillators. The Act also promotes awareness of federal grants related to heat-related illness prevention.
Expected Effects
This act will mandate specific safety protocols at educational institutions with athletic programs. It will also increase awareness and training related to heat-related illnesses among student athletes, coaches, and medical staff. Ultimately, it seeks to prevent future heatstroke fatalities like that of Jordan McNair.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced safety measures for student athletes, reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
- Increased awareness and training among coaches, medical staff, and athletes regarding heat-related illness symptoms and treatment.
- Improved emergency response protocols at sports venues, ensuring timely and effective medical intervention.
- Access to federal grants for schools to improve heat-related illness prevention and treatment resources.
- Potential reduction in liability for schools and universities related to heat-related incidents.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden for schools and universities to develop, implement, and report on emergency action plans.
- Potential costs associated with purchasing and maintaining necessary equipment, such as automatic external defibrillators and cold water immersion equipment.
- Possible resistance from some institutions to comply with the new requirements, leading to enforcement challenges.
- Risk of inconsistent implementation and effectiveness of emergency action plans across different institutions.
- Limited scope, as the act primarily focuses on heat-related illnesses and may not address other potential health risks for student athletes.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the Constitution is primarily based on the General Welfare Clause (Preamble), which allows Congress to enact laws that promote the health and safety of citizens. The bill also indirectly relates to the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) as it regulates institutions involved in interstate athletic competitions. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but this bill focuses on conditional spending (federal funds) to encourage compliance, which is a common practice.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).