RECOGNIZING MARCH 18, 2026, AS “NATIONAL YOUTH HEART SCREENING DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Poore & Rep. Harris

Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Sokola, Walsh, Wilson; Reps. Berry, Bush, Carson, Gorman, Griffith, K. Johnson, Osienski, Ross Levin, Kamela Smith, Snyder-Hall, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 151

RECOGNIZING MARCH 18, 2026, AS “NATIONAL YOUTH HEART SCREENING DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, National Youth Heart Screening Day is observed annually in honor of efforts to prevent sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in children and young adults and is supported by Parent Heart Watch and partner organizations nationwide; and

WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest remains the leading cause of death on school campuses and among young athletes, affecting thousands of youths annually in the United States; and

WHEREAS, according to Parent Heart Watch, approximately 1 in 300 youth has an undiagnosed heart condition that may place them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest; and

WHEREAS, based on data and outreach from Heart in the Game, approximately 7,037 children per year, about 20 youth per day, die in the United States from sudden cardiac arrest, making it the leading cause of death in sports and on school campuses; and

WHEREAS, research continues to show that standard well-child checkups and pre-participation physical evaluations often fail to detect many serious underlying heart conditions; and

WHEREAS, according to Heart in the Game, a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), when included as part of a comprehensive heart screening, can identify up to 90% of heart abnormalities associated with SCA, compared to significantly lower detection rates through history and physical examination alone; and

WHEREAS, comprehensive youth heart screenings that include an ECG in addition to a physical examination and personal and family health history review have proven effective in identifying hidden heart conditions and preventing tragic outcomes; and

WHEREAS, according to Heart in the Game, more than 6,000 Delaware students have received heart screenings through its community and school-based programs, and thousands more have participated in CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training, advancing the mission to make Delaware the “Heart Healthiest” state; and

WHEREAS, the Heart in the Game program was founded in response to the sudden cardiac arrest experience of Grace Firestone and continues Delaware’s leadership in youth heart health through EKG screenings, hands-only CPR training, and automated external defibrillator (AED) awareness; and

WHEREAS, the Grace Firestone Act and its continuing amendments have strengthened Delaware’s commitment to cardiac emergency preparedness by improving access to AEDs, expanding CPR training, and encouraging proactive health screenings; and

WHEREAS, education on recognizing warning signs of SCA, such as fainting, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or dizziness, along with hands-only CPR training and widespread AED accessibility significantly improves survival outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Parent Heart Watch and Heart in the Game, along with other advocacy partners, are working to establish broader national standards for comprehensive youth heart screening and cardiac emergency response plans to reduce sudden cardiac death nationwide; and

WHEREAS, recognizing National Youth Heart Screening Day will increase public awareness, encourage participation in youth heart screenings, and promote lifesaving education, policies, and resources to protect young lives.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the members of the General Assembly hereby recognize March 18, 2026, as “National Youth Heart Screening Day” in the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes March 18, 2026, as “National Youth Heart Screening Day” in the State of Delaware and reaffirms our commitment to preventing sudden cardiac arrest through increased awareness, expanded heart screenings, education, and access to lifesaving tools and training.

Author: Senator Poore