TRENTON – Senator Fred Madden today praised the work of the New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force, who officially issued their report on how to prevent sudden cardiac death in student athletes between the ages of 12 and 19.
“I want to thank the task force for their commitment on this issue and for their dedication to issuing this important report,” said Madden (D-Gloucester/Camden). “Sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes is a tragedy that is becoming all too familiar. Simply put, we can save lives by implementing the task force’s recommendations.”
The task force report included nine recommendations focusing on measures to enhance screening for life threatening cardiac conditions. Senator Madden will be crafting legislation to implement the recommendations.
“We have taken the first step in trying to combat this problem. Now it’s time to move forward with action. I will craft legislation to make these recommendations a reality and look forward to working with the Governor, my colleagues in the Legislature and members of the task force on this issue,” added Madden.
In 2009, the Legislature responded to growing concern over a growing number of sudden deaths in student athletes by passing legislation establishing the task force. The task force was given the responsibility of studying, evaluating and developing recommendations relating to specific actionable measures to enhance screening of student athletes for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other life-threatening cardiac conditions.