Bill Overview
Title: Jordan McNair Student-Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act
Description: This bill requires each institution of higher education that participates in federal student-aid programs and is a member of an athletic association or athletic conference to develop and implement a venue-specific heat emergency action plan for operating and using automatic external defibrillators and cold-water immersion equipment.
Sponsors: Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
Target Audience
Population: Student-athletes in institutions adhering to US federal student-aid programs with athletic programs
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill targets institutions of higher education, specifically those participating in federal student-aid programs and having athletic programs.
- There are about 19.9 million college and university students in the United States, some of whom participate in athletics.
- The legislation is motivated by prevention of heat-related fatalities, primarily impacting student-athletes.
- Globally, there are numerous higher education institutions, but not all participate in US federal student-aid programs.
- Student-athletes globally would only be impacted if their institutions adopt similar safety measures, but the bill directly applies only to US institutions.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes student-athletes across U.S. higher education institutions subject to federal student-aid programs.
- Most student-athletes will see some impact, while non-athlete students will experience less direct effects.
- The policy aims to reduce heat fatalities, potentially improving wellbeing of those at risk, especially in warmer states where heat protocols could be more frequently used.
- Implementation logistics, such as training and equipment availability, may determine the degree of impact.
- As the policy pertains mostly to institutions with athletic teams, a segment of schools with less well-funded programs may require more resources.
Simulated Interviews
student-athlete (Florida)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is crucial, especially in hot climates like Florida.
- Previously, our school didn't prioritize heat safety as much.
- Having such measures assures my parents and me that safety is taken more seriously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
student-athlete (California)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen how dangerous working out in extreme heat can be, so this policy is a great idea.
- We already have some measures, but this will make sure everyone's on the same page.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
student (New York)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this will directly affect me since I'm not an athlete.
- However, it's reassuring that my peers would be protected during sports activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
student-athlete (Texas)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our soccer practices can get pretty intense, so this added safety is a relief.
- It'll likely require some adjustment in how we organize our training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
student (Illinois)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a health perspective, it's good to see these measures being implemented.
- It should alleviate some workload on campus health departments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
student-athlete (Georgia)
Age: 20 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will really help us feel safer during training.
- The implementation might be different for swimming, but equally important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
assistant coach (Ohio)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a big step forward but will require significant resources.
- It needs ongoing training for staff to be effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
student (North Carolina)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might increase my workload since I'm in charge of the sports equipment.
- Still, it's necessary for student safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
student-athlete (Arizona)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Continuing heat safety measures in college is important.
- My wellbeing feels more secure knowing there are precautions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
student-athlete (Washington)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad they're finally making this a standardized practice.
- It gives me confidence that the school cares about athlete welfare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 3: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 5: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- Compliance costs may vary significantly between institutions based on the existing level of preparedness.
- The bill emphasizes the importance of safety and may receive broad support despite financial implications.
- Successful implementation could serve as a model for other regions or countries facing similar challenges.