B.J. Giannone, 18, climbed out of a pool and collapsed of a heart attack on Jan. 31, 2011, moments after finishing a relay race with his St. Peter’s Prep swim team in Jersey City, N.J. Such sudden deaths claim more than 100 student athletes in the heat of competition each year in the United States. Legislation to be introduced in Trenton this week will aim to improve screening of children and teenagers to detect heart abnormalities before the children participate in activities that might be life-threatening.
