1.
- a. The Iowa high school athletic association and the Iowa girls high school athletic union shall work together to distribute the guidelines of the centers for disease control and prevention of the United States department of health and human services and other pertinent information to inform and educate coaches, students, and the parents and guardians of students of the risks, signs, symptoms, and behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury, including the danger of continuing to participate in extracurricular interscholastic activities after suffering a concussion or brain injury and their responsibility to report such signs, symptoms, and behaviors if they occur.
- b. Annually, each school district and nonpublic school shall provide to the parent or guardian of each student a concussion and brain injury information sheet, as provided by the Iowa high school athletic association and the Iowa girls high school athletic union. The student and the student’s parent or guardian shall sign and return the concussion and brain injury information sheet to the student’s school prior to the student’s participation in any extracurricular interscholastic activity for grades seven through twelve.
- 2. If a student’s coach or contest official observes signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury in an extracurricular interscholastic activity, the student shall be immediately removed from participation.
- 3. A student who has been removed from participation shall not recommence such participation until the student has been evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and other brain injuries and the student has received written clearance to return to participation from the health care provider.
4. For the purposes of this section:
- a. “Extracurricular interscholastic activity” means any extracurricular interscholastic activity, contest, or practice, including sports, dance, or cheerleading.
- b. “Licensed health care provider” means a physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, advanced registered nurse practitioner, nurse, physical therapist, or athletic trainer licensed by a board designated under section 147.13.
2011 Acts, ch 32, §1; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §40