Smith Introduces Bill Named For Braedon Bradforth

Congressman Smith meets with some of the 200 friends, family members and supporters of Braeden’s mother, Joanne Atkins-Ingram, who came out at the Aug. 1 memorial in Neptune. At left is Robert Ingram, Braeden’s step-father, and Jill Greene, Joanne’s attorney.

Bill would create a commission to review heat stroke exertion risk to student athletes

Continuing his career long practice of writing legislation that arises from constituent service, Congressman Chris Smith introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on Friday named for Braedon Bradford, the 19 year old Neptune Township football player who died of exertional heat stroke on August 2, 2018 at Garden City Community College in Kansas where he was a freshman scholarship player.

“Braeden’s Commission—Protect our Athletes from Exertional Heat Stroke,” HR 4145, would establish a commission to conduct a study on exertional heat stroke among student athletes at educational institutions across the country to study best practices for prevention, recognition and treatment of exertional heat stroke, and develop recommendations for the purpose of reducing fatalities from exertional heat stroke among student athletes.

“Death from exertional heat stroke is preventable,” Smith said. “When any athlete suffers from it, well-researched protocols exist that require prompt action to mitigate its impact, including death.”

“Braeden had the highest hopes of advancing his football career at Garden City Community College and ultimately, playing in the NFL,” said Smith at a memorial held last night in Braeden’s home town in Neptune, NJ, noting that exertional heat stroke ended that dream. “For months Braeden’s mom—Joanne—was left to speculate as to how and why her beloved son lost his life. Bryce lost his brother, Sean lost a son, and Robert lost his step-son. What was done and when—or not—during this crisis remains unknown to this day.”