Administrators and Athletic Directors,
Good morning
In light of Monday night’s NFL cardiac incident, the TAPPS Office felt that this was a good time to remind our membership of the importance of ensuring the safety of the athletes participating in your programs. According to the NFHS, Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the number one cause of death among high school student athletes.
The TAPPS Bylaws state that all TAPPS Schools shall ensure that an AED is available in all facilities in which contests are hosted. In addition, all TAPPS Athletic Directors and Coaches shall receive annual training in First Aid which shall include instruction on Sudden Cardiac Arrest, CPR and AED use.
In the event you or members of your staff need a refresher or initial training, the NFHS Learning Center (nfhslearn.com) is a resource which provides helpful educational videos that includes several courses which cover health and safety for high school athletics. Two in particular, Sudden Cardiac Arrest and The Collapsed Athlete, are free and would be beneficial for your athletic personnel to view.
If questions arise, please contact the TAPPS office at [email protected] or by phone 254-947-9268.