Studies show half to three-quarters of youth stricken by SCA had a warning sign or family heart history that was missed or misdiagnosed, which means that for the other portion of those stricken, the cardiac arrest was the first indication of a heart abnormality. This is why Parent Heart Watch and member organizations advocate for preventative heart screening. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends heart screening at least every three years and especially when entering middle, junior high and high school, however, guidelines include diagnostic follow-up via electrocardiogram (ECG) only for youth showing warning signs or family heart history, which are often overlooked by youth, parents and their medical practitioners alike.

National Youth Heart Screening Day partners will be using a 12-lead ECG for all screening participants. An ECG is a quick, painless and non-invasive test that measures the heart’s electrical activity. It can identify most conditions that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest/death. ECG results are read by a physician and shared with the parent/guardian unless the participant is 18 or older.

Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by a heart abnormality you’re born with or it can develop as you grow. That’s why guidelines recommend repeated screening, especially if the youth is experiencing warning signs and symptoms, or if your family heart history among siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents changes.

National Youth Heart Screening Day is also a learning opportunity for a family’s regular assessment of warning signs and risk factors to better manage their youth’s heart health and interaction with their medical provider. Find more information here.

Call-Push-Shock is a national collaborative movement to motivate laypersons who witness a sudden cardiac arrest to immediately call 911, start hands-only CPR and use the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED). Screening participants will get hands-on experience delivering compressions and using an AED to save a life. Learn more about Call-Push-Shock here.