According to a new study, reported here, 7 out of 5000 school-aged athletes found serious heart abnormalities due to school-sponsored screening efforts. Screening programs have increased in recent years, in an attempt to “find” possible sudden cardiac arrest patients. There is a debate in the medical community as to whether screening programs are worth the investment. Costly equipment, time, and expert review can add up, making screening campaigns costly.

Depending on the condition identified, treatment options might be limited. What is undeniable, however, is that an AED unit will provide the best level of protection for those who are and are not diagnosed with a cardiac abnormality.

Where do you come in on the issue? Are screening programs worth the risk or are funds better spent on other programs, like saturating communities with AED units?