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Lindsay's Law Teaches Students, Parents, Coaches About The Signs Of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Lindsay's Law teaches students, parents, coaches about the signs of sudden cardiac arrest

A new law in Ohio aims to protect student athletes from a life-threatening condition.

Lindsay's Law, which went into effect on Tuesday, requires students, parents and coaches to learn about the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest.      Lindsay Davis, former Miss Ohio and for whom the law is named, said she had to give up her life's dream of becoming a dancer after she started experiencing complications with her health.

“I started having these episodes of fainting, or I couldn't get my heart to calm down,” she said.

The Lakewood native was experiencing common symptoms of an underlying heart condition.

“I was so tired, after performing routines,” she said.

Davis says she looked to her coaches and teachers for help.

“The people I trusted with my safety,” she said. “They thought it was because of the lack of conditioning, or that I was dehydrated or that I hadn't eaten enough.”

Davis trained seven days a week and it wasn't until she actually experienced sudden cardiac arrest that she got the help she needed.

“After dance class one day, I ended up collapsing at home,” she said.

She was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that makes it hard for the heart to pump blood. She counts herself lucky to have survived.

“I want to make it, so Ohio children don't have to rely on luck,” she said.

Davis said she worked with Senator Cliff Hite to create a law requiring coaches and students in Ohio to be educated on sudden cardiac arrest.

“I was lost and hung up on the fact that I could die any day,” she said.

The law also requires young athletes to fill out a form and get authorization from their physician if they have a family history of heart disease.

Davis says she wants to make sure young athletes don't have to go through what she did.

“You can be educated on the symptoms of this heart condition and catch it before something terrible happens,” she said.

Davis said she is working on passing a similar law in New York state where she now models.


Story Credit: http://www.news5cleveland.com/news/lindsays-law-goes-into-effect-today-lindsay-davis-speaks-about-how-the-law-will-save-lives