News & Events

  • Second Chance Act a tribute to friend who died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

    The legacy of Rafe Maccarone continues to shape youth heart health in Florida. This Florida Today article tells the story of how friends who witnessed the loss of their teammate to sudden cardiac arrest transformed grief into action, helping build the movement that led to the Second Chance Act. Read more…

  • Heart screenings can save young athletes’ lives | Opinion

    Heart screenings can help identify hidden heart conditions linked to sudden cardiac arrest before tragedy occurs. A new opinion piece highlights the importance of ECG screenings for student-athletes and how Florida’s Second Chance Act could expand early detection efforts statewide. Read more…

  • Sarasota schools offer discounted EKGs ahead of new student athlete requirement

    Sarasota County Schools are helping families prepare for Florida’s new ECG requirement for first-time high school athletes by offering discounted heart screenings through community partnerships ahead of the 2026–27 school year. Read more…

  • All incoming DCPS HS athletes required to get EKG examination: What you need to know

    A Jacksonville mother who lost her son to sudden cardiac arrest says Florida’s new ECG screening law could help save lives. Beginning July 1, incoming high school student-athletes will be required to receive a one-time ECG before participating in sports, and Duval County Public Schools is already offering free screenings for rising 9th graders. Read more…

  • BayCare, Florida nonprofit offers heart screenings ahead of new ECG law for first-time high school athletes

    BayCare Medical Group and the nonprofit Who We Play For are offering community ECG heart screening events as Florida prepares to implement its new law requiring first-time high school student-athletes to receive an ECG before sports participation.. Read more…

  • ‘This could have been prevented:’ Florida requires heart screenings for student athletes

    The Second Chance Act, which takes effect July 1, will require heart screenings for students participating in a high school sport for the first time. Advocates, survivors, and medical professionals gathered in Orlando this week to demonstrate how a simple, noninvasive electrocardiogram (ECG) can help detect potentially life-threatening heart conditions before tragedy strikes, while also encouraging families to take advantage of upcoming community heart screening events for student-athletes. Read more…

  • New high school student athletes must have hearts screen starting this summer

    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…

  • HIDDEN DANGER High school athletes must undergo mandatory test before playing sports

    Florida will require ECG screenings for high school athletes starting in the 2026–27 school year under the Second Chance Act, making it the first state to mandate the test. The screening aims to detect hidden heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest—the leading non-traumatic cause of death in young athletes. Read more…

  • New Florida law requires heart screening for student-athletes

    Florida’s new law will require high school athletes to complete an ECG heart screening before participating in sports, aiming to detect hidden heart conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest. The measure is designed to improve early detection and protect student-athletes following recent tragedies that raised awareness of cardiac risks. Read more…