The Inter-Association Task Force for
Preventing Sudden Death in Secondary School Athletics Programs: Best Practices
Recommendations

Casa DJ, Almquist
J, Anderson SA, Baker L, Bergeron MF, Biagioli B, BodenB, Brenner JS,
Carroll M,
Colgate B, Cooper L, Courson R, Csillan D, DeMartini J, Drezner JA, Erickson T,
Ferrara M, Fleck SJ, Franks R, Guskiewicz K, Holcomb WR, Huggins R, Lopez RM,
Mayer T,
McHenry P,
Mihalik JP, O’Connor FG, Pagnotta K, Pryor R, Reynolds J, Stearns RL, Valentine
V. J Athl Train. 2013;48(0:000-000). Epub Ahead of Print
An
inter-association task force has published recommendations for best practices
regarding preventing sudden death in secondary school athletics programs. “This
document provides a roadmap for policy considerations regarding health and
safety issues for secondary school athletes.” The guidelines address the
leading causes of sudden death within the population –  head and neck injuries, exertional heat
stroke, sudden cardiac arrest, and exertional sickling – and offers
“information to address the infrastructure issues and barriers that can
introduce the most risk to athletes.”