Student-Athlete ECG/EKG Screening
**Requirement starting in the 2026-2027 school year**
Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, Florida’s Second Chance Act requires all high school student‑athletes to complete an ECG/EKG before their first participation in grades 9–12. This screening helps detect hidden heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Pinellas County Schools partners with Who We Play For to offer safe, affordable, and accessible heart screenings for all student-athletes. Join us at one of our upcoming screening events in Pinellas County:
These ECG screenings will fulfill the new FHSAA and Second Chance Act requirements beginning in the Fall 2026.
- May 14th - 3pm - 6pm - East Lake High School, Tarpon Springs
- May 21st - 4pm - 7pm - Palm Harbor University High School, Palm Harbor
- June 3rd - 8am - 12pm - Hollins High School, St. Petersburg
- June 17th - 11am - 3pm - Clearwater High School, Clearwater
ECG Screening Forms
Importance of Heart Screening in Youth
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the immediate loss of electrical function of the heart caused by an abnormal
heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. SCA occurs suddenly, without warning, and causes the heart to stop
pumping blood to the body. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is not the same as a heart attack.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is:
● The #1 Killer of Student Athletes in the United States, accounting for 75% of all athlete-related
deaths
● The #1 Killer of Students while on school campuses, two-thirds occurring with exercise or activity
● The #2 Medical Cause of Death in all of our children
● The First reported symptom in half of all cases is SCA