Families who have lost young athletes to cardiac conditions have faced the unimaginable. Many have shown extraordinary courage by turning their grief into a search for solutions that protect other children to help ensure no one else endures the pain they’ve lived through.

Student athletes face the highest immediate risk. Intense physical activity puts extra stress on the heart, which is why undetected heart conditions are likely to become dangerous during sports. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among student athletes, and nearly 40% of cardiac arrests in young people happen during sports.

The heart is a complex organ, and there’s no single test that can detect all indicators of heart conditions. That’s why the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology support an evidence-based, layered approach* — one that surrounds young people with protection by checking for problems early and being prepared for emergencies.

This starts at a student’s regular sports physical. Their healthcare professional performs a heart screening, which includes reviewing personal and family history, as well as a physical exam. This screening is the best way to identify serious conditions that may need additional testing.

And because cardiac emergencies can still happen, every school needs a cardiac emergency response plan which includes training teachers, coaches and staff in CPR and AED use.

This evidence-based approach empowers families and doctors to decide together what’s best, and help every student athlete stay healthy, safe, and in the game—from preseason to playoffs.

*Layered approach includes the screening, any follow-up testing deemed necessary by a health care professional and cardiac emergency response plans

Join us in advocating for science-based heart screening for students.