AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

Stronger emergency safeguards for school athletes

Delaware’s school athletics board must set emergency-safety rules for middle and secondary school interscholastic sports. All coaches must obtain and maintain certification in CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. CPR and AED training must follow national evidence-based emergency heart-care guidelines. Each school with an athletic program must have a venue-specific plan for cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergencies during practices or events. Plans must follow national recommendations, be widely shared and posted, and be practiced every year. Each athletic venue and event must have a clearly marked AED in an unlocked, easy-to-reach location, with placement following national guidelines. Access is required during the school day and school-sponsored events or team practices involving the school’s students. AEDs must be tested and maintained following the maker’s instructions, and their type and location reported to the Office of Emergency Medical Services.