09/04/2026
You can never be too prepared for an emergency.
Recent events right here in our local community are a heartbreaking reminder that cardiac arrest doesn’t just happen to other people, in other places. It can happen to a child, an athlete, a teammate, a friend—right here at home.
As parents, when we sign our children up for sports and other activities, we ask about schedules, uniforms, practices and fees. I believe we should also be asking:
❤️ Will a rescue-ready AED be available at EVERY practice, game and event?
❤️ Where is it, and how quickly can it be reached?
❤️ Who will be there who is currently trained in CPR and AED use?
❤️ Is there an emergency action plan, and does everyone know it?
Simply owning an AED isn't enough. It needs to be maintained, accessible, and close enough to be retrieved immediately—and people need to be prepared to use it.
I also strongly encourage parents of student athletes to talk with their healthcare providers about cardiac screening, including whether an ECG is appropriate for their child. Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Florida requires an ECG screening at least once when students in grades 9–12 first participate in interscholastic athletics, with certain exceptions. I would love to see greater attention to cardiac screening for student athletes across every state.
We prepare for fires with alarms, drills and extinguishers. We prepare for injuries with first aid supplies and athletic trainers. We should prepare for sudden cardiac arrest with that same level of intention.
Ask the questions. Know where the AED is. Make sure it is rescue-ready. Know who is trained.
Preparation may feel unnecessary—right up until the moment it isn't.
Our children are worth being overprepared for. ❤️
A Northwest Guilford Middle School student went into cardiac arrest...