1. (a)

   1. (1) Each middle school and high school shall develop a venue-specific emergency action plan for all athletic facilities.

   2. (2) A venue-specific emergency action plan includes:

      1. (i) The operation and use of automatic external defibrillators in accordance with § 7-425 of this subtitle;
      2. (ii) Heat acclimatization in accordance with § 7-434 of this subtitle;
      3. (iii) Coordination of care for other emergent injuries, including cervical spinal injury, concussion and closed head injury, major orthopedic injuries, and severe weather for outdoor facilities; and
      4. (iv) A cardiac emergency response plan in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.

2. (b) A venue-specific emergency action plan developed under this section shall be:

   1. (1) Posted at each athletic facility at the school;
   2. (2) Available on the school's website for viewing by a student athlete's parent or guardian at the beginning of each school year;
   3. (3) Distributed to each member of the coaching staff; and
   4. (4) Rehearsed in person and interactively by all of the coaching staff of each sport before each of their respective seasons.

3. (c) The provisions of a venue-specific emergency action plan for the operation and use of automatic external defibrillators shall ensure that:

   1. (1) An automated external defibrillator is provided on-site and is located at or within a brief walk from an athletic practice or event on school property;
   2. (2) An automated external defibrillator is freely accessible during all school functions;
   3. (3) All members of the coaching staff are trained in the operation and use of an automated external defibrillator; and
   4. (4) A trained member of the coaching staff is present at all athletic practices and events on school property.

4. (d) The provisions of a venue-specific emergency action plan for heat acclimatization shall:

   1. (1) Include guidelines for student athletes consistent with the Model Policy for Preseason-Practice Heat Acclimatization Guidelines for Student Athletes established under § 7-434 of this subtitle;
   2. (2) Ensure that each school is properly prepared and equipped to initiate cold water immersion for the treatment of exertional heat stroke;
   3. (3) Ensure that the cooling modality is readily available to student athletes at all athletic practices and events on school property;
   4. (4) Ensure that all members of the coaching staff are trained in cold water immersion; and
   5. (5) Ensure that a trained member of the coaching staff is present at all athletic practices and events on school property.

5. (e)

   1. (1) Each venue-specific emergency action plan shall include a cardiac emergency response plan.

   2. (2) The cardiac emergency response plan shall:

      1. (i) Identify the appropriate school personnel to serve as the cardiac emergency response team who will be tasked with responding to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while at an athletic facility;
      2. (ii) Coordinate with first responders in the local emergency medical services to integrate the cardiac emergency action plan into local emergency response protocols; and

      3. (iii) Include, at minimum, the following evidence-based core elements recommended by an appropriate national organization, including the American Heart Association:

         1. 1. Procedures for activating the cardiac emergency response team during incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while at an athletic facility; and
         2. 2. Requiring specified school personnel to have training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the operation and use of automated external defibrillators, in accordance with § 7-425 of this subtitle, including cardiac emergency response team members, athletic coaching and training staff, school nurses, and any other individuals identified by the cardiac emergency response team.
   3. (3) Each year, each middle school and high school shall review and update the cardiac emergency response plan required under this subsection.

Added by Acts 2022, c. 212, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022. Amended by Acts 2024, c. 163, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.