AEDs and Second Chance Act can save lives of students | Opinion

A free heart screening event at Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville offered electrocardiogram (EKG) screenings for children and young adults ages 10–22, helping identify underlying heart conditions early. The initiative highlights growing awareness among families about the importance of early detection to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Read more…

Who We Play For is partnering with Orlando Health to provide community heart screening events for student-athletes as families prepare for Florida’s new Second Chance Act requirement, which takes effect July 1. The quick, noninvasive ECG screenings are designed to help identify hidden heart conditions linked to sudden cardiac arrest before an emergency occurs. Read more…

An ECG screening conducted under Florida’s Second Chance Act identified a cardiac abnormality in a student’s cousin, allowing for early intervention before a potential life-threatening event. The case underscores how required screenings can detect hidden conditions and prevent sudden cardiac arrest in young people. Read more…

Florida’s Second Chance Act requires student-athletes to receive ECG screenings, with schools and partners offering free or low-cost options to improve access. Experts say these screenings can identify hidden heart conditions early—often the only way to detect certain abnormalities—and help prevent sudden cardiac death. Read more…

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, Florida will require EKG screenings for incoming and first-time high school athletes to help detect hidden heart conditions before participation. The mandate, part of the Second Chance Act, aims to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest—the leading cause of death among student-athletes—by identifying issues early. Read more…

Starting July 1, incoming 9th-grade athletes and students who have never played high school sports before must get heart screenings prior to participation.