Commission would examine exertional heath stroke in athletes

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey has introduced legislation to create a commission to study exertional heat strokes in athletes after a player from his district died at Garden City Community College in Kansas.

Smith, a Republican, proposed the bill Friday to honor 19-year-old Braeden Bradforth, of Neptune, New Jersey. He died in August 2018 after the first day of practice in Garden City.

The Joplin Globe report s the bill would establish a commission to study exertional heat stroke among student athletes at educational institutions across the country.

Smith said the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury confirmed 64 exertional heat stroke deaths among football players since 1995.

Bradforth, a 300-pound lineman, collapsed less than an hour after a conditioning session. An autopsy concluded he died of exertional heat stroke.

___

Information from: The Joplin (Mo.) Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com