About 2,000+ individuals younger than age 25 die each year of sudden cardiac death in the United States, excluding sudden infant deaths.
Although we tend to focus on youth athletes, we know today that all children and teens benefit from simple screening to help identify any potential problem that warrants follow-up with a cardiac specialist. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls for all children to be screened for conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest or death. This recommendation applies to all youth athletes as well as less active children and teens.
There are steps families and communities can take to lower their risk of sudden cardiac death in young people:
- Regular well-child visits and sports physicals to include an EKG.
- Know Your Family History.
- Community Life Support Training and Automated External Defibrillators.
Legacy of the Lost is dedicated to all the young lives lost to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (PHW)
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