ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To create a study committee to study and make recommendations with respect to student
athletes and the detection and prevention of heart disease.
WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest is the most common cause of death in the United
States, accounting for an estimated three hundred fifty thousand deaths annually or one
thousand deaths a day, and it is the leading cause of death in young athletes; and
WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest happens to outwardly healthy people with no
known heart problems such as high school, college, and professional athletes and thousands
of children; and
WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest is associated with vigorous exercise which can be
seen in many of the high school, college, and professional sports in which young athletes
participate; and
WHEREAS, some young athletes are often not diagnosed because they may be
outstanding competitors and otherwise appear healthy; and
WHEREAS, many of the afflicted student athletes had hidden, underlying,
undiagnosed heart conditions that might have been detected with proper screening; and
WHEREAS, when a student athlete suffers cardiac arrest, his heart abruptly stops
pumping blood, typically in response to unexpected, irregular, chaotic heart rhythms, which
can be deadly within minutes if not immediately treated; and
WHEREAS, in Louisiana alone there have been numerous student athlete deaths and
every life lost is one too many; and
WHEREAS, a young person at the peak of physical prowess, dying without any
warning is a shocking, tragic, and potentially preventable death; and
WHEREAS, it is obvious that more needs to be done to prevent sudden cardiac arrest
among young athletes; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 78
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WHEREAS, uniform screening methods are needed for students and young people
participating in athletics to detect heart defects; and
WHEREAS, many of these tragic deaths could be prevented if we employ early
detection methods; such as, the Electrocardiogram (EKG) and Echocardiogram (heart
ultrasound); and
WHEREAS, according to the American Heart Association, EKGs are noninvasive,
painless, inexpensive tests that use electrodes attached to the chest to record the heart's
electrical activity; and
WHEREAS, EKGs are a standard tool that reads the heart's electrical activity to find
abnormal rhythms and are designed to identify conditions by determining blood flow and
whether areas of the heart are abnormally thick; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the use of early detection testing methods, the American
Heart Association recommends a twelve-step history screening process to help prevent
sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes; and
WHEREAS, the screening includes twelve questions about personal and family
medical history and a physical examination to uncover aspects of an athlete's health that
could signal a cardiovascular problem; and
WHEREAS, heart screening will attempt to identify some preexisting heart
conditions that could potentially increase a student's risk of a cardiac event or sudden cardiac
death with vigorous physical activity; and
WHEREAS, the complete heart screening process typically includes the following:
(1) a focused medical history questionnaire; (2) blood pressure measurements; (3) an EKG;
(4) a physician review and examination; and (5) a limited echocardiogram; and
WHEREAS, in certain circumstances after an EKG reading indicates that there are
potential heart-related problems the student athlete would be required to take follow-up tests;
and
WHEREAS, the combination of history screening and the early detection tests can
increase the probability of preventing sudden cardiac arrests in young athletes.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
create a study committee, composed of members as hereinafter provided, to study and make ENROLLEDHCR NO. 78
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recommendations with respect to the detection and prevention of cardiac arrest in young
athletes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee created herein shall be
composed of five members as follows:
(1) A member of the Louisiana High School Athletics Association appointed by the
executive director of such association.
(2) A cardiovascular physician approved by the Louisiana State Board of Medical
Examiners and appointed by the executive director of the board.
(3) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals or his
designee.
(4) A member of the Louisiana Athletics Trainer's Association, Inc., appointed by
the president of the association.
(5) A member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports appointed
by the director of the council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the study committee shall serve
without compensation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee should study the feasibility
of requiring all high school and collegiate athletes to be screened for early detection of heart
disease.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of health and hospitals or his
designee shall convene the first meeting of the study committee and shall designate staff of
the Department of Health and Hospitals to assist the study committee in performing its
duties.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall meet as necessary and
shall report its findings to the legislature not later than February 1, 2013.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE