High school student-athletes in Florida are now required to undergo an electrocardiogram test to make sure that the heart’s electrical activity is normal before participating in sports. The non-invasive test works by recording the electrical waves that pass through the heart with each heartbeat, causing the heart muscle to contract and pump blood.  The new requirement has been added along with the existing procedures, such as physical examinations and sports safety online classes.

Florencia Caceres is a sophomore involved in school sports at Miami Palmetto Senior High. She is on the girls’ soccer team and the girls’ basketball team. Due to her constant physical activity, Caceres believes this law is an important step in keeping athletes safe. 

“I feel like it will make sports safer because the school will be more sure of their safety, and if [athletes] have heart problems or not. It could help coaches better adapt to students’ health,” Caceres said.   

EKG screenings also detect any underlying heart conditions, making it crucial to the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in student-athletes. EKGs provide early warnings that can lead to life-saving treatments before symptoms ever appear. By detecting the risks proactively, the new law will set a new standard for high school sports safety. 

MPSH athletic trainer Michele Benz has personally witnessed athletes suffer from cardiac issues and feels that the requirement is beneficial.

“The better thing is to get more education out to the parents, to the student-athletes, about the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac death,” Benz said.

The law, also known as the Second Chance Act, is named after Florida high school football player Chance Gainer. On Sept. 6, 2024, after scoring two touchdowns at Liberty County High School, Gainer collapsed on the field due to an undetected heart condition and tragically passed away.

Legislation acted fast to ensure that precautionary tests were put in place, hence the new requirement. By putting the law in place, it gives families a peace of mind now to help prevent devastation in the future. This law brings attention to a rarely discussed issue and spreads Gainer’s story.

“There’s a very good component in it; if it saves one life, it’s a great measure,” Benz said.