•HRES 655 IH 
Whereas pre-participation physical examinations are impor-
tant to helping student athletes and their parents under-
stand a student athlete’s unique individual risks of poten-
tial injury or illness related to their participation in ath-
letics; 
Whereas medical, practitioner, and scientific professional so-
ciety recommendations, as well as the recommendations 
of Federal and State task forces, represent invaluable 
contributions to the standard of care provided during 
pre-participation physical examinations; 
Whereas scientific research and innovation in healthcare has 
led to the development of now-widely available tools, in-
cluding electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, posi-
tron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance 
imaging (MRI), and next-generation genetic sequencing 
(NGS), and will continue to advance the development of 
future technologies, designed to diagnose potential med-
ical problems; 
Whereas medical professionals, student athletes, and parents 
of student athletes must act in partnership to carry out 
a successful pre-participation physical examination, in-
cluding sharing concerns and appropriately weighing indi-
vidualized risk factors; 
Whereas local school districts, youth sports associations, and 
college and university athletic departments have a re-
sponsibility to educate student athletes, parents of stu-
dent athletes, or both such athletes and parents about 
sports-related health risks, raise awareness about student 
athlete health, and develop responsible policies and rec-
ommendations to encourage healthy sports participation; 
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•HRES 655 IH 
Whereas an estimated 120 student athletes passed away dur-
ing sports-related activities in 2014, and the risk of sud-
den death for student athletes is estimated at one out of 
200,000 per year, though several recent studies indicate 
that the actual figure may be significantly higher; and 
Whereas each and every student athlete’s death from a pre-
ventable cause during an organized athletic practice or 
competition is a tragedy with severe emotional, physical, 
and financial consequences for families, schools, and com-
munities: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives encour-
ages local school districts, youth sports associations, and 
college and university athletic departments to regularly 
update their pre-participation physical examination poli-
cies, in accordance with evidence-based best practices and 
with respect for special parental considerations, in the fol-
lowing areas— 
(1) medical and family history surveys; 
(2) physical examination practices; 
(3) cardiovascular screenings; 
(4) neurologic screenings; 
(5) orthopaedic screenings; 
(6) general medical screenings; 
(7) medication and supplement use surveys; 
(8) nutritional and dietary assessments; 
(9) heat and hydration-related illness risk as-
sessments; 
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•HRES 655 IH 
(10) mental health considerations; 
(11) the administration of pre-participation 
physical examinations; 
(12) the referral of cases for further evaluation 
and intervention; and 
(13) the determination of clearance for, or ex-
clusion from, sports participation. 
Æ 
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