Smart Heart Sports Coalition
On March 27, 2023, the National Football League, along with other major sports organizations and leading patient and health advocacy groups, announced the formation of The Smart Heart Sports Coalition, to advocate for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will help prevent fatal outcomes from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among high school students.
The coalition is advocating for the implementation of three best practice policies to prevent death from Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
- Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for each high school athletic venue that are widely distributed, posted, rehearsed, and updated annually;
- Clearly marked automated external defibrillator (AEDs) at each athletic venue or within 1-3 minutes of each venue where high school practices or competitions are held; and,
- CPR and AED education for coaches.