A new Florida law, called the Second Chance Act, will require that all high school students undergo an electrocardiogram before they can participate in sports.
According to WSVN, the law makes Florida the first and only state to require high school athletes to get at least one EKG in their high school sports career.
“There are many conditions, cardiac conditions, that are only diagnosed with EKGs,” said Broward Health cardiologist Jonathan P. Nieves.
EKGs can detect heart problems before they result in sudden cardiac arrest.
“It’s not only saving the students’ lives, some of these conditions are genetically transmitted from family member to family member,” said Nieves. “And so, in the long term, we are not only saving the student athlete, but we are saving their parents, siblings, and even their children in the future.”
Just last year, a Florida high school football player, Chance Gainer, died after collapsing mid-game.
The law is named the Second Chance Act after the late high school star.
