A high school athlete discovered he had a potentially life-threatening heart defect, learning of his condition only after a screening mandated by Florida law. The state’s Second Chance Act came into effect on July 1 before the 2026-2027 school year. It requires students in grades 9 to 12 to undergo at least one electrocardiogram (ECG) screening the first time they participate in or try out for interscholastic athletics, with certain exceptions, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
An ECG, also known as an EKG, is a simple and noninvasive test that measures the heart’s electrical signals. It can help identify irregular rhythms or other signs of heart trouble.
A high school student-athlete had no symptoms of his condition and only learned of his situation through the required screening. (Laura Crider)
Cameron Crider, a sophomore football and basketball player at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, underwent an ECG screening required by the school for all student-athletes. This test led doctors to find an atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital heart defect involving an opening in the wall between the heart’s two upper chambers.
If a significant ASD remains untreated, the additional blood flow can strain the heart and lungs over time, potentially leading to complications such as pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and in some cases, stroke.
“I’ve been playing sports all my life and didn’t notice anything, so I was surprised because I haven’t felt anything,” Cameron told FOX 13.
His mother, Laura Crider, expressed surprise at her son’s undetected condition. “[Cam was] going to a three-hour football practice and then a two-hour basketball practice back-to-back, never experiencing fatigue or shortness of breath or anything that you would think would be a warning sign,” she said.
Cameron is scheduled for surgery to fix the ASD in October. He is expected to return to sports next season.
The mandatory ECG is “a gift from God that has been given to us,” Laura Crider said, emphasizing the importance of finding out through medical screening rather than a tragedy.
Statistics show up to 80% of young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) don’t have any warning symptoms. Dr. Jonathan Drezner, director of the University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology, shared this insight with Fox News Digital.
Intense physical activities place additional stress on the heart, making undetected conditions potentially dangerous. The American Heart Association (AHA) cautions that sudden cardiac arrest is not the only concern, noting that these conditions can lead to serious heart-related complications.
Although the AHA does not recommend mandatory ECG screenings for student-athletes, they advocate a comprehensive heart assessment including a review of personal and family history along with a physical examination. This approach helps identify serious heart conditions that can lead to cardiac events in student-athletes.
Cameron’s condition was discovered through the mandatory ECG screening. (Laura Crider)
If a comprehensive heart assessment raises concerns, health professionals can order follow-up tests such as an ECG, echocardiogram, heart monitor, or other advanced imaging based on the suspected diagnosis. The AHA and American College of Cardiology promote an “evidence-based, layered approach” to identify and treat heart issues early.
Dr. Drezner asserts that an ECG screening greatly enhances the ability to detect conditions associated with SCA in young people. “A standard sports physical by history and physical alone will miss 80-90% of kids with at-risk heart conditions,” he said. An ECG can suggest or detect about 80% of the conditions that put young people at risk.
Healthy athletes and young people may have a potentially lethal heart condition without knowing it. Symptoms such as chest pain, passing out, or a racing heart should not be ignored, Dr. Drezner advised.
“Ensure your child feels well when exercising,” he advised parents. “If there’s a family history of genetic heart conditions or SCA, discuss it with your child’s doctor and get a proper heart screen with an ECG.”
Teresa Mull is a freelance writer with the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
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