Assembly Concurrent Resolution 47 (Skinner) Commotio Cordis Awareness

ISSUE Commotio cordis is a rare but potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rhythm) that results from a sudden, often seemingly innocuous blow to the chest. When the chest is struck at a certain point during a heartbeat, it can disrupt the electrical rhythm of an otherwise healthy heart and cause cardiac arrest and sudden death. Commotio cordis occurs most often during sports, when athletes are at risk of being unintentionally struck in the chest by a firm projectile or by another athlete. It disproportionately affects children and young adults, and is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death among young athletes. The average age of those affected is 16, and 90% of those affected are under the age of 25. There have been 250 reported cases of death from commotio cordis in the United States in the past 16 years. The risk of commotio cordis is lower when supervising coaches and parents are aware of the risks, know CPR, and have access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). There is a 40% chance of survival if an AED is used within three minutes, but only 5% if it is delayed beyond three minutes. Survival rates are at historic highs as awareness of this condition has grown. In the last six years, 58% of those affected have survived their attacks, a significant increase from the 10% that survived from 1970 to 1993. However, public awareness is still relatively low, even among young athletes, their families, and their coaches. ACR 47 (SKINNER) ACR 47 designates the week of June 1 through June 7 as Commotio Cordis Awareness Week in California, and encourages all Californians, particularly those involved in youth athletics, to learn about the risks of, and treatments for, commotio cordis. This bill is sponsored by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Assemblymember Nancy Skinner Staff Contact: Tom Hughes (916) 319-2015 or Tom.Hughes@asm.ca.gov