Six years after University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair died of heatstroke during practice, Maryland's Congressional Delegation introduced the Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act.
According to the Baltimore ABC affiliate, Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) introduced the bill in the United States House of Representatives, while Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate.
The bill would require college athletic programs to create, implement and rehearse specific heat illness emergency action plans (EAPs) in consultation with local emergency responders, including the operation of cold-water immersion equipment, which wasn't used when McNair suffered heatstroke.
“Jordan McNair’s death was avoidable. We owe it to him and his family to do everything we can to ensure such a tragedy is not repeated,” said Cardin. “Awareness of the warning signs, coupled with strong and consistent emergency procedures are important for keeping our student-athletes healthy, especially in extreme temperatures."
The bill has already received support of McNair's father, who launched a foundation in his son's name.
“I strongly support the introduction of the Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act primarily to help improve player safety at the collegiate level of competition from this 100 percent preventable injury," said Martin McNair.
