Free EKG Event Prioritizes Heart Health for Young Jacksonville Athletes

Nemours Children's Health and Who We Play For offer free heart screenings to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Dozens of families in Jacksonville spent Valentine's Day getting free electrocardiogram (EKG) screenings for their children between the ages of 10 and 22 at an event hosted by Nemours Children's Health and the nonprofit Who We Play For. The goal of the event was to detect any underlying heart conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest, which remains the leading cause of death among student athletes.

Why it matters

Sudden cardiac arrest is a serious issue for young athletes, with health experts estimating that one in 300 young people has a detectable heart condition. Events like this free EKG screening aim to identify these rare but serious cases before tragedy strikes, allowing for proper medical follow-up and ensuring student athletes can safely participate in sports.

The details

The quick, non-invasive EKG screenings were open to kids and young adults between the ages of 10 and 22. Families lined up throughout the morning to have their children tested, with the goal of the event being to make heart screenings as routine as sports physicals. Organizers said the goal is to "catch the needle in the haystack" - to identify the rare cases of cardiac abnormalities that require additional follow-up, in order to keep young athletes safe on the field.

  • The free EKG screening event took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Nemours Children's Health

A nonprofit children's health system that hosted the free EKG screening event.

Who We Play For

A nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, which co-hosted the event.

Angelo Santos

A Jacksonville parent who brought his two basketball-playing sons to the event for peace of mind.

Dr. Rajesh Shenoy

A pediatric cardiologist who spoke about the importance of detecting heart conditions in young athletes.

Robert R. Sefcik

The executive director of the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, who discussed the goal of identifying rare cardiac abnormalities.

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What they’re saying

“This is a good thing to detect the EKG for the heart, so that they know we can screen potential problems, especially nowadays when younger athletes just collapse on the field or on the court.”

— Angelo Santos, Parent

“While it is relatively uncommon for a student athlete to have sudden cardiac arrest, that still is the leading cause for sudden death.”

— Dr. Rajesh Shenoy, Pediatric Cardiologist

“We're trying to catch the needle in the haystack. We know that most kids are perfectly safe and perfectly healthy, but every now and then we will catch somebody with a cardiac abnormality that needs additional follow-up.”

— Robert R. Sefcik, Executive Director, Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program

What’s next

Organizers said they plan to make the free EKG screening event an annual occurrence, in order to continue prioritizing the heart health of young athletes in the Jacksonville community.

The takeaway

This event highlights the importance of proactive heart health screenings for student athletes, going beyond the standard sports physical to detect rare but serious cardiac conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest. By making these screenings more accessible, communities can work to prevent tragic outcomes and ensure young athletes can safely participate in the sports they love.