Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act

This bill, called the Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act, aims to prevent heat illness in school sports. It would require colleges with athletic programs and secondary schools that receive federal education funds to create a heat emergency plan for each sports venue within one year, then review and report on it every year . Each plan must explain how to use automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and cold water immersion, be posted in locker rooms, training rooms, weight rooms, and outdoor fields, be shared with local emergency responders, and be practiced in person each year by athletes, trainers, coaches, and other key staff . Schools must also post the plan online at the start of each school year and send a yearly compliance report to the Education Department; limited adjustments are allowed if a facility is undergoing major renovations . The bill encourages using Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature guidelines and having an AED within three minutes of each sports venue. The Education Department would inform schools about federal funds for training, prevention, and equipment to treat heat illness. The bill is named in honor of Jordan McNair and responds to findings that heat is a leading climate-related cause of death and a serious risk for student athletes.

Key points

• Who is affected: Colleges with athletic programs and secondary schools with student athletics that receive federal education funds .
• What changes: Create and post venue-specific heat emergency plans; include AEDs and cold water immersion; share with local responders; practice the plan yearly; report compliance annually; consider temperature guidelines and quick AED access; limited flexibility during major renovations .
• When: Within 1 year of enactment, with updates and reports every year after that .