The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation has worked to change how young hearts are protected at home, in school, on the field and at the doctor’s office. We have introduced three laws now noticed by the California Department of Education and have augmented the California Health Education Framework to incorporate new policy and protocol for Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention in youth. Our foundation has free resources to help schools, sports and community youth organizations comply with these laws.
AB1639 The Eric Paredes Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act (2016)
Initially a California Interscholastic Federation by-law affecting high school school sports programs, this law now applies to our state’s public, private and charter K-12 schools. It includes mandatory Sudden Cardiac Arrest Information sheets that are signed by parent/guardian and student athletes, bi-annual SCA prevention training and new removal/return to play protocol for student athletes who faint/pass out or exhibit a suspected cardiac condition.
AB379 Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Protocol (2020)
This law extends the protocol introduced in AB1639 to community youth sports programs, with the addition that sports officials (referees, umpires, etc.) and administrators also take mandatory Sudden Cardiac Arrest prevention training. This law applies to an organization, business, non-profit entity, school or local governmental agency that sponsors or conducts amateur sports competitions, training, camps or clubs for those under 18.
FREE Resources To Comply
What the laws mandates:
- Find online training for coaches and sports officials
- Get SCA Fact Sheets for Sports Packets—available in 9 languages
- Prevention video guide for athletic trainers
- Overview new removal/return to play protocol
- SCA Sideline Action Plan
- Videos and handouts for team meetings
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Training
California state law mandates SCA Prevention Training for coaches, sports officials and administrators of youth sports programs. Click on the video to watch a 1-minute preview of this FREE training Californians can take to comply. Then click on the button below to register for the training. Training produced in collaboration with Parent Heart Watch and Coach Safely.