The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation has worked to change how young hearts are protected at school and on the field. We have introduced three laws to advance sudden cardiac arrest prevention protocol in school athletics and community youth sports, which are noticed by the California Department of Education and in the California Health Education Framework. To support compliance with these laws we have produced free resources available to any organization.
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 removal/return to play protocol for student athletes who faint/pass out or exhibit a suspected cardiac condition. Learn more.
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. Learn more.
What These Laws Require:
- SCA Information Sheets in sports clearance packets
- Parent/athlete signature on SCA Information Sheets
- Coaches and sports officials take SCA Prevention Training
- Coaches adhere to removal/return to play protocol for athletes who faint
AB310 The Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act (2025)
This law requires community youth sports teams to have a cardiac emergency response plan and coach CPR/AED certification by 2027 with access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) during practices and matches by 2028. The written response plan for each home venue the team or league uses should be drilled and shared with coaches, administrators, athletes and parents. Learn more.
This law requires:
- Athletes have access to an AED during practice
or matches - Coaches are CPR/AED certified
- Teams have a written cardiac emergency
response plan that includes:- protocol for how to respond to a
sudden cardiac arrest - training for responsibilities of
coaches, administration and athletes - notification to families about the plan
- announcement of AED location/s
- protocol for how to respond to a
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.