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Lindsay’s Law
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in student athletes 19 and under. It is also survivable, and the warning signs are things a parent can spot.
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, cutting off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. It is fatal if not treated immediately, and it is the leading cause of death in student athletes aged 19 and under.
It can happen to a child who looks perfectly healthy. That is the point of Lindsay’s Law: the warning signs are knowable, and a family that recognizes one can act on it before anything happens.
Who is Lindsay?
Senate Bill 252 is named for Lindsay Davis, a former Miss Ohio and national heart health advocate who lives with a heart condition and has spent her career raising awareness of it. In her words: “Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes. At any moment I could have died because coaches and teachers had no idea this was even a possibility for someone who looked as healthy as I did at that age.”
The law
Lindsay’s Law — Ohio Revised Code 3313.5310, 3707.58 and 3707.59 — took effect in 2017. It applies to every youth sports organization in Ohio, including ours, for athletes aged 19 and under, and it covers practices and scrimmages as well as games. The Ohio Department of Health, the Department of Education, the OHSAA and the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Cardiology wrote the materials together.
Warning signs
Two separate things to check — your family’s history, and how your athlete responds to exercise.
In your family
These may mean your athlete is at higher risk:
- A blood relative who died suddenly and unexpectedly before age 50
- A family history of cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome, Marfan syndrome, or other heart rhythm problems
In your athlete, with exercise
If any of these happen during or after activity, see a health care professional:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Unexplained fainting, near-fainting or dizziness
- Unexplained tiredness, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Unusually fast or racing heartbeat
A heart murmur, high blood pressure, or a prior heart evaluation by a physician are also reasons to be seen before playing.
When an athlete must come out — and what it takes to go back
- An athlete who faints or passes out before, during or after an activity must be removed from that activity.
- An athlete whose biological parent, sibling or child has had a sudden cardiac arrest must be removed from activity.
- An athlete with any of the warning signs above cannot take part in practices, scrimmages or games until cleared.
To return, the athlete must be seen by a health care professional and cleared in writing. The law lists who may do this: a physician (MD or DO), a certified nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist or a certified nurse midwife. The written clearance goes to the coach or commissioner before the athlete plays again.
We have defibrillators at every field and gym
An automated external defibrillator can save a child’s life during a sudden cardiac arrest, and minutes matter. St. Matthew has an AED at all of our sports fields and in the gymnasiums.
Lindsay’s Law does not actually require a youth sports organization to have one. We have them anyway. Take a moment at your child’s first practice to find the nearest one — knowing where it is beforehand is most of the battle.
Every unit is certified on a 2-year cycle. Last certified Spring 2026, next due Spring 2028.
1. Recognize it
Call the child’s name. If there is no response, check for a pulse. If there is none, or you are not sure, act.
2. Call 911
Say clearly “someone dial 911.” Point at a specific person so it is not left to the crowd.
3. Start CPR
Begin immediately and keep going. Chest compressions buy the time the defibrillator needs.
4. Use the AED
Send someone for the nearest defibrillator while CPR continues. It talks you through it.
What the law asks of us
Short, free, and done online. Signed forms are kept by the association — nothing goes to the state.
Parents and athletes
- Watch the state’s short video for parents and youth athletes
- Read the sudden cardiac arrest information handout
- Sign and return the parent/athlete signature form
Once each school year, for each sport your child plays. Electronic signatures count. At St. Matthew this is handled with your other forms at the Diocese Sports Portal when you register.
Coaches
- Watch the state’s video for coaches
- Read the coach information handout
Annually, and it is a separate video and handout from the parent version — the coach materials add the coach’s own responsibilities. No individual may coach without it.
The state’s videos, handouts & forms
All free, all from the Ohio Department of Health. The parent and coach versions are different — use the right one.
Video for parents & athletes
The required video. Watch it together with your child.
Parent & athlete handout
The required information sheet, in full.
Parent/athlete signature form
The form you sign once each school year, per sport.
Video for coaches
Required annually of every coach, including volunteers.
Coach handout
Adds the coach’s own responsibilities to the parent material.
Frequently asked questions
The state’s answers on training, forms and signatures.
Materials are maintained by the Ohio Department of Health — odh.ohio.gov always has the current version. The Diocese of Columbus CYO keeps its own copies here.
Talk to your doctor first, then tell us
Anything on this page that sounds like your child is a conversation for a health care professional, not for us. Once you have their guidance, let the commissioner or coach know so we can support it.