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Committee reviews proposed athletic emergency plans, AED placement and coach training
Summary
Draft language would require public and independent schools with athletic programs to adopt annually reviewed Athletic Emergency Action Plans (AEAPs), consistent with the Vermont Principals Association, require AED placement at athletic venues, and mandate CPR, first aid and AED training for coaches.
MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Senate Education Committee reviewed changes to school safety language on May 6 that would require public and independent schools with athletic programs to adopt Athletic Emergency Action Plans and to ensure AEDs and training for coaches.
Sophie Sedanik of the Office of Legislative Council told the committee the bill would require each public and independent school with an athletic department to “establish and annually review an Athletic Emergency Action Plan, an AEAP, that shall detail the steps to be taken in response to a serious or life threatening injury of a student participating in sports or other athletic events.” The AEAP must be consistent with the guidance of the Vermont Principals Association.
The draft also adds a requirement that AED placement plans “include a requirement for clearly marked and easily accessible AEDs at each athletic venue where practices or competitions are held,” and would require all athletic coaches to “obtain and maintain training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and the use of an AED.”
Tina Zu of the American Heart Association told the committee staff that the AEAP language aligns terminology used in athletics with school-level cardiac emergency planning: “Same plan, but just it's just spelled out more clearly — one for schools, one for sports,” she said, describing the drafting approach.
Committee members asked for clarification about what level of first-aid training the language requires; witnesses said the underlying principals association guidance includes the first-aid requirement but that the draft does not define the level of first-aid training. The committee asked staff to follow up with athletic trainers (witnesses mentioned a Kyle Peckham) and others who testified previously to provide more detailed information on the scope of required first-aid training.
The committee indicated it will accept further testimony on the section at an upcoming hearing before taking final action.
