Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Management in Student Sports

A. Director of Athletics/Superintendent Designee in Charge of Athletics Duties

1. Updating:  Each spring, he/she will review any changes that have been made in forms required for concussion, head injury, and sudden cardiac arrest management by consulting with the WIAA.  If there are any updated forms, they will be adopted and used for the upcoming school year.

2. Identifying Sports:  By June 30 of each year, he/she will identify competitive sports activities in the district for which compliance with Policy 3422 is required.  A list of competitive sports activities and the district’s policy 3422 and procedure 3422P will be distributed to all coaching staff and volunteers during district training.

B. Coach Training:  All coaches shall undergo training in head injury, concussion, and sudden cardiac arrest management at least once every two years through WIAA clinic and district training.  All coaches will undergo training in sudden cardiac arrest prevention every two years by completing an online program developed by the WIAA and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology and providing proof of completion to the district.

C. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Information Sheet:  On a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and submitted as part of the district’s clearance process.  The information sheet will also incorporate a statement attesting to the student and parent/guardian’s review of the pamphlet on sudden cardiac arrest included in the district’s eligibility packet.  This information sheet may be incorporated into the parent permission sheet which allows students to participate in extracurricular athletics.

D. Coach’s Responsibility:  A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury or who exhibits symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest in a practice or game shall be immediately removed from play.

E. Return to Play After Concussion, Head Injury or Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest:  A student athlete who has been removed from play may not return to play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and sudden cardiac arrest and receives written clearance to return to play from that health care provider and undergoes a testing and clearance process performed by a school district athletic trainer. 

Highline School District 401
Approved by the Superintendent: November 16, 2009
Revised by the Superintendent: 12.15