Florida Mandates EKGs for High School Athletes Under 'Second Chance Act'

New Florida Law for Athlete Heart Screenings

• 📌 A new Florida law, the "Second Chance Act," mandates EKG screenings for all high school athletes.
• 💡 This law was inspired by the story of a 16-year-old girl who suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a workout.
• ✅ The legislation aims to prevent preventable sudden cardiac deaths in young people.

EKG Test and Its Importance

• 🩺 An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that assesses heart health and can diagnose heart conditions.
• 🎯 When performed and read correctly using international criteria, EKGs can detect 70-95% of heart conditions that are fatal to young people.
• ⚡ Bystanders used CPR and an AED to save the life of the 16-year-old athlete, as ambulance response took 15 minutes.

'Who We Play For' and Legislative Impact

• 🤝 Sean Sema, the father of the athlete, is part of the organization 'Who We Play For,' which advocates for affordable heart screenings.
• 📜 Florida Senate Bill 1070, requiring EKGs for high school athletes, was passed with the organization's support and signed into law by Governor DeSantis.
• 🌟 Florida is the first state to implement a statewide EKG requirement for all high school athletes.

Additional Safety Measures and Timeline

• 🏥 The law also requires every elementary, middle, and high school in Florida to have at least one AED on campus.
• 🗓️ The new requirements are set to take effect at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
• 🌍 It remains to be seen if other states will follow Florida's lead in adopting similar athlete safety laws.