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A new Florida law now requires that all high school student-athletes receive an electrocardiogram (ECG) before they can participate in school sports programs. Florida is the only state with an ECG requirement as part of sports physicals for students, but others may follow if more high-profile young athletes are treated for sudden cardiac arrest on the sidelines—such as basketball player Bronny James and football player Damar Hamlin. In Florida, youth athletes must be tested in time for the 2026-27 school year, and ECG results gathered any time in the 2 years prior to the deadline will be accepted, according to Health News Florida. Policies are forthcoming that will prohibit a student athlete from participating in tryouts, practice, or competition when testing produces an abnormal ECG, pending clinical confirmation that the student is healthy enough to be involved in sports. Additionally, a separate Florida law now requires schools to have automated external defibrillators to respond to sudden cardiac arrest situations on campus. Read more about sports physicals in urgent care from the JUCM archive: Conducting Preparticipation Sports Physicals in the Urgent Care Center
Participate in research: Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sudden death in competitive athletes during sports and exercise, according to the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Because the history and risk profile of cardiac disorders among athletes is not well understood, the 2 groups have created the Outcomes Registry for Cardiac Conditions in Athletes (ORCCA) to monitor clinical outcomes in athletes diagnosed with cardiac conditions that are linked to sudden death. Find out how to participate on the ORCCA website.