According to the experts, the top causes of sudden death in sport are Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS), head injuries and exertional sickling.  This page further defines Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS), Exertional Sickling and Asthma and emphasizes our Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) approach to maximizing safety in these areas.

 Sudden Cardiac Arrest

What is sudden cardiac arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart stops beating, abruptly and without warning.  If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs.

 What we are doing in DCPS:

·       All athletes are required to have a pre-participation physical exam

·       All coaches are CPR/AED certified

·       All coaches must watch an approved video on SCA

·       At least one AED device is available on each high school and middle school campus (Westside has 4!)

·       Athletic trainers create emergency action plans and rehearse them with coaches to expedite care in the event of an emergency