HCA Florida Healthcare physicians encourage parents of student-athletes to schedule sports physicals early in a press release, as the Second Chance Act (SB 1070) requires an EKG screening for all high school athletes.
According to the Second Chance Act, students in grades 9-12 must receive at least one EKG before participating in interscholastic athletics beginning the 2026–2027 school year and thereafter. The legislation makes Florida the first state in the U.S. to require the screening for high schoolers.
The Second Chance Act name honors Chance Gainer, an 18-year-old Florida senior high school wide receiver and defensive back who died after collapsing during a game in Sept. 2024 due to an undiagnosed heart condition. The new law aims to help prevent similar tragedies by identifying potentially life-threatening heart abnormalities.
“The sports physical is much more than a form to complete before the season begins,” Dr. Christine Estrada, assistant chief medical officer at HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital, said. “Physical exams provide the opportunity to identify health concerns early, discuss injury prevention and make sure young athletes are physically prepared for the demands of their sport.”
Sports physicals are an essential part of student-athletes’ wellness, as the exams evaluate overall health, previous injuries, joint function, vision, and medical history, while helping to identify conditions that could affect a student’s ability to compete safely.
Despite its rarity, sudden cardiac arrest remains the leading medical cause of death among young athletes, affecting an estimated one in 40,000 to one in 80,000 athletes each year, according to the press release. A mandatory EKG provides another important screening tool for heart health.
“An EKG can identify electrical patterns suggestive of inherited or structural heart conditions that place some young athletes at increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest,” Dr. Estrada said. “When combined with a thorough medical history and physical examination, an EKG helps us determine which students may benefit from additional cardiac evaluation and further testing before they compete.”
Although some Florida school districts required EKG screening for student athletes before the Second Chance Act, the new legislation positions Florida as a national leader in helping detect potential life-threatening heart conditions before a tragedy.
HCA Florida Healthcare recommended that parents, coaches, and athletes seek medical evaluation if a student experiences chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, heart palpitations, or extreme fatigue during exercise in a press release.
“Participation in school sports offers tremendous physical, emotional and social benefits,” Dr. Estrada said. “With comprehensive sports physicals, the addition of EKG screening and greater awareness of warning signs, we are helping families ensure students start the season healthy, confident and ready to compete safely.”
For more information, visit hcafloridahealthcare.com or its “Healthy Living” blog.
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