Community event aims to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes, youth.
LAKE NONA, Fla. – UCF Lake Nona Hospital, part of HCA Florida Healthcare, is partnering with Who We Play For to help save lives of student athletes and young adults through free heart screenings on the hospital campus Feb. 7.
Who We Play For is an Orlando-based national nonprofit dedicated to eliminating sudden cardiac death in the young through affordable, attainable heart screenings. ECGs, which are painless and non-invasive, are administered by Who We Play For and reviewed by board-certified pediatric cardiologists with results in about 10 days.
Registration for screenings is required – please visit this link: Youth Heart Screening.
WHAT: Free heart screening clinic for young people aged 10-25 – open to all Central Florida communities.
WHO: Leaders from UCF Lake Nona Hospital and Who We Play For will be available for media interviews and to share stories of young people whose lives were cut short by sudden cardiac arrest as well as others saved by heroic bystanders.
WHY: According to Who We Play For, sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 cause of death in student athletes. The organization notes 80% of those students reported no previous symptoms.
Florida became the first state in the nation under a new law signed by the Governor last June to require electrocardiograms for high school athletes. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, prior to participating in interscholastic athletic competition for the first time, a student must pass an electrocardiogram (ECG) screening.
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: UCF Lake Nona Hospital, 6700 Lake Nona Boulevard, Orlando
