Emergency? Call 911.Someone collapsed or not breathing normally? Call 911 (or your local emergency number) now.Emergency steps
Resource center
Parents & guardians
Most young athletes have healthy hearts, and regular activity is good for them. A small number have heart conditions that may not have been diagnosed — some are inherited.
Knowing the warning signs and your family history are two of the most useful things a parent can do.
Talk with relatives about heart conditions in the family. Important history includes: sudden or unexplained death before age 50, unexplained fainting or seizures, drowning or single-car accidents without a clear cause, and known inherited heart muscle or rhythm conditions.
Share this with your child's healthcare professional. Update it when you learn something new.
Chest pain during exercise, fainting or near-fainting (especially with exercise), unusual shortness of breath, a racing or irregular heartbeat with other symptoms, and an unexplained drop in exercise ability all deserve medical evaluation.
Encourage your child to tell you or a coach right away — and make sure they know they won't be in trouble for speaking up.
Fill out history forms carefully and honestly — the questions about symptoms and family history matter.
Bring a list of medications and supplements, and mention any symptoms your child has noticed, even if they went away.
Ask relatives about these and share anything you learn with your child's healthcare professional.
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Bring this with you to your child's pre-participation evaluation.
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Use these to start a conversation. Your clinician will guide what's relevant for your child.
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Coaches & athletic trainers
Remove an athlete from activity if they report or show chest pain, fainting or near-fainting, unusual shortness of breath, palpitations with other symptoms, or an unexplained drop in ability. Return to play should follow medical evaluation.
A collapse without contact — or after a blow to the chest — should be treated as possible cardiac arrest until proven otherwise.
Tell your team, early and often, that reporting symptoms is expected and won't be punished. Model it: praise athletes who speak up.
Avoid language like "play through it" for chest pain, fainting, or breathing problems.
Have a written, venue-specific emergency action plan that names who calls 911, who starts CPR, who retrieves the AED, and who guides EMS. Include addresses and access points for every practice and game location.
Rehearse it with staff — and athletes — at the start of every season.
Coaches and staff benefit from current, hands-on CPR and AED training from a recognized provider. Know where every AED is, check that it's accessible during practices and events, and make sure it's maintained.
Normalize hydration breaks, rest days, and honest conversations about how athletes feel. A culture of safety helps athletes perform and stay in the game longer.
Review before every season and at every new venue.
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Remove from activity and refer for medical evaluation if an athlete reports or shows:
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Small habits that make it easier for athletes to speak up.
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Sources
Clinical review: pendingUpdated 2026-10-25