Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young (SCDY)
Sudden cardiac death claims the lives of more than 300 Michigan children and young adults
between the ages of 1-39 years annually. These deaths are a tremendous loss not only for
families, but for entire communities. Even more disheartening is that many of these deaths
could be prevented through screening, detection, and treatment. SCDY victims are too young
to die-and every life lost is one too many. One way to detect high risk conditions that
predispose to SCDY is through pre-participation sports screening of student athletes.
The resources below contain more information on SCDY as well as links to ongoing projects
at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. For information on specific SCDY-related
conditions, try searching the Resource Database.
Highlighted Resources
The MDHHS Genomics Program initiated a surveillance system to further assess the impact of SCDY and identify action steps for prevention. This website provides links, events and data on SCDY.
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The MI HEARTSafe School Award Program was created to support school communities' efforts to prevent SCDY by screening athletes for inherited sudden cardiac arrest syndromes and increasing the awareness of how to recognize the signs of a sudden cardiac arrest and respond quickly.
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This pre-participation sports physical examination form must be filled out before any Michigan student practices with any athletic team. This form helps determine if a student is physically fit to participate in a variety of sports depending on their family history and personal health issues.
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is pleased to present this
updated report detailing the impact of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Michigan young
people under age 40—an issue of grave public health concern.
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Additional Resources
A cardiac emergency response plan sample editable for use at your school.
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Directions in case of a cardiac emergency.
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Document for listing the people designated as the cardiac emergency response team.
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Promotes accessible AEDs with trained emergency responders in schools.
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Dedicated to equipping Michigan high schools with AEDs, appropriate screening for all athletes, and promoting CPR/AED training and practice drills.
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How to get CPR training and obtain an AED for your school.
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Details on the MHSAA sports screening form and resources on pre-participation forms.
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List of additional resources related to prevention of SCDY.
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Details and criteria for the MI HEARTSafe school award program.
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A map of the current number of MI HEARTSafe Schools per Michigan County.
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