State Senate passes McAuliffe bill on teaching athletes about cardiac arrest

A bill that State Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe sponsored would require school athletes and their families to get, read and sign material about sudden cardiac arrest.

The bill recently passed unanimously in the Senate and went to the House of Representatives.

McAuliffe noted that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in youth athletes.

The bill would apply to all of the of nearly 800 member high schools and middle or junior high schools, both public and private, in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the rulemaking body for sports in the state.

The bill requires the WIAA to work with member schools and the University of Washington Sports Cardiology Center to develop and make available an online pamphlet that provides athletes, their parents and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet would include information on the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs, prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet would need to be posted on the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s website.

Each year, prior to participation in an interscholastic sport, students and their parents would need to sign a form stating that they reviewed an online pamphlet about sudden cardiac arrest.

The bill would require the WIAA, member schools and the UW Sports Cardiology Medicine Center to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches and require coaches to complete the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program. Coaches must provide a certificate showing completion of the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program to the school.

Private nonprofit organizations using school property would need to provide a statement of compliance with the policies for sudden-cardiac awareness.

McAuliffe, the ranking minority Democrat on the senate committee on early learning and K-12 education, said last week that she introduced the bill after hearing about a Snohomish County student who died from sudden cardiac arrest on a sports field.

McAuliffe represents the 1st Legislative district, including most of Mountlake Terrace, all of Brier and Bothell, unincorporated areas of Snohomish County north and east of Bothell, north Kirkland, and unincorporated areas of King County between Bothell and Kirkland.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Fosse will not seek reelection; 2 candidates set to run for her seat

Mason Rutledge and Sam Hem announced this week they will seek the District 1 City Council position.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police arrest two males in shooting at Swift bus

Man, 19, is booked for investigation of attempted murder. 17-year-old held at Denney Juvenile Justice Center on similar charges.

K-POP Empire store owners Todd Dickinson and Ricky Steinlars at their new store location on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood K-pop store wary of new tariffs

Much of the store’s merchandise, which arrives from China and South Korea, is facing new import fees.

Fire department crews rescue climber after 100-foot fall near Index

The climber was flown to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett with non-life-threatening injuries.

Janet Garcia walks into the courtroom for her arraignment at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Monday, April 22, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett mother found competent to stand trial in stabbing death of 4-year-old son

A year after her arraignment, Janet Garcia appeared in court Wednesday for a competency hearing in the death of her son, Ariel Garcia.

Everett council member to retire at end of term

Liz Vogeli’s retirement from the council opens up the race in the November election for Everett’s District 4 seat.

Washington State Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn speaks during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County’s Annual Meeting and Awards events on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Commerce boss: How Washington state can make it easier for small businesses

Joe Nguyen made the remarks Wednesday during the annual meeting of the Economic Alliance Snohomish County and the Snohomish County Awards

Snohomish County Superior Courthouse in Everett, Washington on February 8, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Snohomish County, 7 local governments across US, sue Trump administration

The lawsuit alleges the administration put unlawful conditions on funding that includes $17M to the county for homelessness assistance.

Photo courtesy of Tulalip Resort Casino
The creamy chicken verde enchiladas at World Flavors, located in The Kitchen at Quil Ceda Creek Casino.
A dish to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

The creamy chicken verde enchiladas at World Flavors, located in The Kitchen at Quil Ceda Creek Casino, are a tasty treat year round.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Former Monroe teacher arrested again as new sexual abuse allegations surface

Police made the arrest this week after investigating the testimony of a former student who has moved out of state.

A couple walks around Harborview Park as the  Seaspan Brilliance, a 1,105-foot cargo ship, moors near the Port of Everett on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Everett, Washington.  The ship is moored until it can offload its cargo in Vancouver, B.C. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
WA ports await sharp drop in cargo as Trump’s tariff battle with China drags on

Shippers trying to get ahead of the import taxes drove a recent surge, officials say.

Everett Music Initiative announces Music at the Marina lineup

The summer concert series will take place each Thursday, July 10 to Aug. 28 at the Port of Everett.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.