After local student athlete death, Scott to host free student heart screening
Rep. Greg Scott August 22, 2023 | 3:04 PM
HARRISBURG, Aug. 22 – State Rep. Greg Scott along with Simon’s Heart, Jefferson Health and the Norristown Area School District are hosting a free student athlete heart screening after the local deaths of five student athletes due to sudden cardiac arrest.
To call attention to the importance of screening for sudden cardiac arrest, Scott will hold a free Community Heart Health Screening event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 23 on the Roosevelt Campus of Norristown Area High School. The event is intended for kids aged 14-25 and will offer heart screenings, blood pressure screening, stroke education, flu shots and more. Students can also have their PIAA physical completed for the 2023-24 school year at the event. Pre-registration is required.
Scott will discuss the benefits of heart screening and his new legislation promoting it during a news conference at an in-person pre-registration event 5 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Roosevelt Campus of the Norristown Area High School.
Pre-registration can also be completed online here.
Scott is leading a legislative push to require electrocardiograms for students to perform in athletics, from first enrollment and biannually through high school graduation.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among student athletes,” said Scott, D-Montgomery. “Despite the lethality and prevalence of the condition, there is no requirement that students be screened for its risk factors. With at least five local students in recent memory dying from this preventable situation, my team along with local community partners have conducted CPR classes, donated AED machines and now I am inviting everyone to this lifesaving event.”
Students and parents are encouraged to pre-register, as space is limited. Organizers at the pre-registration event will include translators and staff to help register students for the screening in September and share information about sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of electrocardiograms and the PIAA physical.