The Importance of Heart Screenings for Student Athletes
Sudden cardiac arrest ranks as the leading cause of death among student-athletes. Frequently, it occurs without prior signs. To combat this risk, the Miami-Dade School Board and the State of Florida mandate electrocardiograms (ECGs) for all Florida student-athletes before they engage in sports activities.
Why Heart Screenings Are Necessary
High school sports hold great value for students. They impart skills such as teamwork, discipline, responding to coaches, handling victories and losses, and most importantly, enjoying themselves. Heart screenings serve to mitigate the risk of tragic deaths on school premises or during athletic events. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in this group and frequently occurs without warning. Unfortunately, over 90% of those who experience sudden cardiac arrest do not survive or realize their risk.
This reality prompted the Miami-Dade County School Board and the State of Florida to enact the “Second Chance Act,” which requires ECGs for student-athletes. This step aims to ensure their safety before allowing them to participate in sports.
Getting Your Child Screened
Florida’s sports medicine community strives to maintain athlete health and safety. Coaches are trained in CPR, and schools are equipped with AEDs, or automated external defibrillators. Preventative measures against heat illness are also emphasized. An ECG is a simple, painless procedure that evaluates the heart’s electrical activity.
Besides the health questionnaire and physical exam, an ECG provides an extra layer of safety. Various local healthcare providers, such as Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children’s, offer these screenings either for free or at a nominal cost. In Florida, legislation caps the test fee at a maximum of $50.
The primary objective is to ensure children can play sports safely. Like most screenings, ECGs are not without flaws. Occasionally, an abnormal outcome leads to additional specialist evaluations. These might be false positives, eventually cleared, allowing children to play.
Early screenings are preferable to address any potential need for further evaluation. Although such instances are rare, this simple test provides every child with opportunities to enjoy sports safely.
Dr. Michael Swartzon, a sports medicine physician affiliated with Baptist Health South Florida, collaborates with the Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, and InterMiami CF. Contact him at [email protected] for more information.
This article was first published on July 24, 2026, at 1:33 PM.