Sudden cardiac arrest takes the lives of thousands of children every year. It is the #1 cause of death of student athletes. The American Heart Association believes that a physical exam is adequate. Physical exams are important, but not enough for our children.

Recent research shows that adding an ECG to a physical exam is effective tool for detecting potentially-fatal heart conditions. It saves lives. About one out of every one hundred children who attends a youth heart screening discovers a heart condition.  

The American Heart Association should embrace this technology, explore ways to improve it, and encourage innovation in this field. Heart screenings for children should become a standard of care. Our children are worth it, right?