Safety Regulations for Extracurricular Activities

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Contributed by: Andrea L. Slater Gulley

Senate Bill 82, adopted during the 80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, requires Texas school districts to complete extracurricular activities safety training beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.  The training will be adopted by the Commissioner of Education, who will use materials from entities such as the American Red Cross and Emergency Medical Systems when developing the program.

Coaches, trainers, sponsors of extracurricular activities, and marching band directors will be required to satisfactorily complete the program.  The program will provide training in emergency action planning and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, communicating effectively with 9-1-1 emergency service operators and other emergency personnel, and recognizing symptoms of potentially catastrophic injuries, including head and neck injuries, concussions, asthma attacks, heatstroke, and injuries requiring use of a defibrillator.  The program will also provide training to students participating in extracurricular athletic activities related to the risks of using dietary supplements.

This column is published for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author's law firm or its individual partners.