The Brief A new Florida law requires EKG heart screenings before students can play high school sports. The screenings aim to detect hidden heart conditions that can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Florida high school students will now be required to undergo an electrocardiogram, or EKG, before participating in school sports under a new statewide law aimed at detecting potentially life-threatening heart conditions. The backstory:The law is intended to identify heart abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, often without warning. Health officials encourage families to complete the screening before the start of the high school sports season.