§244a Materials and Resources to Increase Education and Awareness of Cardiomyopathy Among School Administrators, Educators, and Families

Summary

The Secretary must create public education materials, with help from the CDC Director, not later than 18 months after December 23, 2024. The materials must explain the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for high-risk heart conditions and genetic rhythm disorders that can cause sudden cardiac arrest in children, teens, and young adults, including cardiomyopathy and the named syndromes long QT, Brugada, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, short QT, and Wolff-Parkinson-White, plus any other high-risk conditions the Secretary decides. The materials must also include guidance on where to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and child care, AED and CPR training information, and advice on making and using a school cardiac emergency plan. The Secretary must share these materials, not later than 30 months after December 23, 2024, with State education agencies for distribution to school staff, coaches, families, and caregivers; provide a cardiomyopathy risk assessment to parents or caregivers as called for elsewhere; make the materials available to health departments and health professionals; and post them on the CDC public website. State education agencies are encouraged to create web pages about cardiomyopathy and post the materials there. Definitions (one line each): cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle that can be symptomless or cause fatigue, irregular heartbeats, heart failure, or sudden death and includes types like dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, and left ventricular non-compaction; Director — the CDC Director; early childhood education program/elementary/secondary school — as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801; school administrator — a principal, director, manager, or similar leader in schools or child care; school health professional — a health worker serving in schools or child care.