Simply Healthcare, Who We Play For collaborate to prevent cardiac death in young Floridians

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Simply Healthcare and Who We Play For joined together to help prevent cardiac death in young Floridians.

Who We Play For hosted a free heart screening at the Dream Finders Homes FlexField in Jacksonville Monday, which SimplyHealthcare said “could save a student’s life.”

Simply Healthcare contributed $100,000 for Who We Play For’s heart screening event for ages 10-22. Through the partnership, Who We Play For can expand its outreach, according to Simply Healthcare.

“I am a firm believer in the power of community and collaboration,” Simply Healthcare Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Cristy Castaneda said. “Simply is deeply invested in making sure that our youth receives the best possible care. Our goal is to raise enough awareness to save at least one life and continue to keep children safe from this silent killer”

The first round of screenings occurred Monday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. for Duval County public high schools and middle schools. The next round of screenings occurred Monday between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. for Jacksonville community members.

Executive Director of Who We Play For Evan Ernst said Monday’s event was an “unbelievable moment” as they were able to treat “hundreds of kids” in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the surrounding school districts.

“It was just extremely powerful for all of us and just a flag planting moment for us as we try and just continue to swing the hammer and save some lives,” Ernst said.

Ernst said electrocardiograms, commonly known as ECGs, are important because sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the “best way to catch it is with an ECG beforehand.”

Who We Play For’s mission is to eliminate preventable sudden cardiac death in young people through affordable heart screenings.

According to the organization, sudden cardiac arrest, which causes a person’s heartbeat to stop abruptly and unexpectedly, may strike people of all ages including children and teenagers who seem to be healthy.

The organization also said one in 300 students have a heart condition. They also said 80% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest have no prior symptoms.

According to their website, sudden cardiac arrest is the number one cause of death on school campuses and the number one cause of death for student athletes.

A simple heart screening test can help to detect important heart conditions that can cause sudden cardiac arrest, according to Simply Healthcare.