Each year, we hear heartbreaking stories of young athletes collapsing on the sports field without warning. Yet despite how often these tragedies occur, each one still feels completely unimaginable. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac death peaks between the ages of 13 and 17. Once considered rare, cardiac arrest in children is more prevalent than many realize, with more than 23,000 children experiencing cardiac arrest every year.
Sudden cardiac arrest happens when an abnormal heart rhythm causes the heart to stop beating unexpectedly. Many of these tragic events occur in children and teens who have shown no previous signs or symptoms of heart disease.
The good news is that a simple heart screening can often identify subtle warning signs of an underlying heart rhythm disorder. A pediatric electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can help detect irregular heart rhythms and other abnormalities, potentially allowing families to take action before a life-threatening event occurs.
What a pediatric ECG can reveal about your child’s heart
Pediatric heart specialists at Wolfson Children’s C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute recommend electrocardiograms (ECGs) as a tool to detect potentially life-threatening conditions. An ECG is a test that uses small electrode patches placed on the chest, arms, and legs to record the heart’s electrical activity and assess the heart’s rhythm.
“An ECG is a quick, easy, and painless test that can make a huge difference in a child’s life,” says Rajesh Shenoy, MD, chief of Pediatric Cardiology at Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, and medical director of Pediatric Cardiology for Wolfson Children’s Terry Heart Institute. “The results of these tests allow us to diagnose many heart rhythm disorders and start treatment, reducing the risk of a child experiencing a cardiac episode.”
New ECG requirement for student-athletes
Beginning July 1, 2026, a new Florida law will require ECG screenings for all incoming 9th-grade student-athletes. Students in grades 10–12 who are participating in a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)-sanctioned sport for the first time will also be required to complete the screening. Returning athletes in grades 10–12 will not be required to obtain an ECG, though it is strongly recommended.
“These screenings allow families to be proactive instead of reactive by detecting potentially life-threatening heart arrhythmias and conditions before they occur,” says Robert R. Sefcik, MS, LAT, ATC, executive director of the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program (JSMP), a nonprofit dedicated to youth sports safety through awareness, advocacy, and injury prevention. “Although our focus is student-athletes, all high schoolers can benefit from a heart screening; sudden cardiac arrest doesn’t just happen on the field.”
Questions about ECG requirements for your teen?
Talk to your child’s pediatrician, school athletic director, or coach about the new ECG requirements and screening options near you. Additionally, organizations like the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program and Who We Play For are offering on-site, discounted ECG screenings during physical education classes at select schools. Find an ECG screening near you.
