New guidelines approved by House to ensure student-athlete safety

March 5, 2009

OLYMPIA – Legislation approved unanimously this week by the state House of Representatives would establish new safety guidelines regarding head injuries of student athletes on public-school facilities. House Bill 1824 ensures that sports programs on school property be compliant in how to deal properly with concussions and head injuries. It also requires that officials remove from play any youth suspected of having suffered a concussion or head injury and that written authorization from a doctor be provided before returning to play.
 
Rep. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island) co-sponsored the legislation and was pleased by its passage. The issue is personal for Rolfes, whose daughter once suffered a head injury that required an airlift to Harborview Hospital.
 
“Proper education can be the difference between life and death from head injuries,” Rolfes said. “This bill requires that sports officials be educated on the subject and that injured participants be taken out of play and properly cared for. This bill is critical to our kids’ safety and is just common sense.”
 
The legislation passed the house 94-0 on Wednesday, and now goes to the Senate for consideration. For more information, click here.