Seemingly every year we hear the devastating news of a young athlete, often in high school or college, suffering a cardiac arrest. In recent years, the most high-profile case of this kind was Bronny, the son of basketball great Lebron James, who suffered cardiac arrest during basketball practice at the University of Southern California. The likely cause was a congenital heart defect, and luckily, Bronny will likely make a full recovery. However, stories of young athletes suffering heart attacks on the field are all too common, and sometimes result in death.
While heart attacks among young athletes may appear to be freak incidents, our personal injury lawyers know that cardiac arrest is the number one cause of death in young athletes. In this article, we’ll discuss the medical research on cardiac arrest in young athletes as well as when such an event might be a personal injury case and how Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help your case. If your child has experienced this, learn more about your rights by calling 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free case review.
Cardiac Arrest in Young Athletes: Why? Who’s at risk?
A recent study published by the American Heart Association examined 20 years of data among NCAA athletes. During the study period, from 2002 through 2022, there were 1,102 athlete deaths, and cardiac arrest was the most common cause, accounting for 13% of cases.
While there was good news—over that same period, the rate of death from sudden cardiac arrest declined significantly, around 29% every five years—certain groups were shown to be at significantly higher risk. Male athletes were four times as likely as female athletes to suffer sudden cardiac death, and Black athletes were three times as likely as white athletes. Male Division 1 basketball players had the highest incidence rate, roughly 1 in 2,000 over four years.
The reasons for this higher level of risk remain unclear. Research available through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute highlights similar findings, that Black male athletes are at significantly greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest. However, the authors emphasize that the reasons are still elusive, likely a combination of many social and environmental factors.
What Can be Done?
While more research is needed to address the underlying causes of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, researchers strongly advocate for better safety and prevention for young athletes at risk, including:
- CPR training and education for coaches and players
- Access to defibrillators and proper training on how to use them
- Developing and using strong emergency action plans for sudden cardiac arrest
Research has also found that many of these incidents are the result of congenital abnormalities in the heart and coronary arteries; combined with high levels of exertion, these can result in a serious cardiac event. For this reason, some recommend ECG screening of young athletes to help understand who might be at greater risk.
When to Contact an Attorney
Some of these incidents are truly accidents, but especially in an environment like a school sports team, there is an expectation of responsibility that coaches and staff maintain a safe environment for young athletes. At every level, from pewee to the heights of the NCAA, young athletes deserve to be safe. Coaches and staff often have a duty to be properly trained on emergency action plans and must have the resources to follow them. Failure to do so may be the result of negligence of one of the parties involved. If for example, a coach is not properly trained in CPR or other first aid that could have prevented or lessened the severity of an injury, this may constitute negligence.
If you or your child suffered a serious injury, including cardiac arrest, while participating in school sports, get in contact with a qualified personal injury attorney. Buttafuoco & Associates has the experience and the knowledge to win your case.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation today!
