Eric Paredes was an athletic, seemingly healthy freshman at Steele Canyon Charter High School when he collapsed in his house in El Cajon last year while packing for a family vacation.

His mother, who is a nurse, had just left the house for an appointment. His father, a law enforcement officer, came home for lunch and found his only son on the kitchen floor. He started CPR, but it was too late.

Eric, 15, had died of sudden cardiac arrest, a condition where the heart ceases function abruptly and without warning.

On Thursday night, Eric's parents, Hector and Rhina Paredes, went before the Grossmont Union High School District governing board to share their story and report on what they're doing to prevent sudden cardiac arrest among young people.

 "It's our purpose in life now," Rhina Paredes told the board.

The couple started the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation this year with help from Scripps Health and is providing free cardiac screenings at Grossmont district school sites.

The first screening was held at Steele Canyon High in August. Medical volunteers, including 20 physicians, screened more than 500 student athletes and identified five who were at risk and are now being treated, according to the Paredeses.

The foundation plans to hold a screening Dec. 4 at Valhalla High School in Rancho San Diego and to schedule more at other Grossmont district schools.

"The long-term vision is to change the system," Hector Paredes said. The goal is to push for more training and medical equipment at schools to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest deaths.

A few facts about the condition is found on the foundation's website:

• The condition kills more than 350,000 people in the United States each year, including more than 7,000 children.
• Sudden cardiac arrest affects males four times more than females and occurs during exercise 60 percent of the time.
• Signs and symptoms include fainting, dizziness after exercise, excessive fatigue, chest pain, irregular heart beat. Sometimes the first symptom is death.
• Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. It is an "electrical" problem that prevents the heart from functioning effectively. A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest.
• Family history, EKG and echocardiograms can detect up to 60 percent of conditions that cause sudden cardiac arrest.
• Early use of automatic external defibrillators could save up to 100,000 lives per year.

The Paredeses, who have a daughter, are pushing for more comprehensive physical exam requirements for students taking part in sports and for more defibrillator programs in schools.

The foundation is accepting donations, but the Paredeses did not request any money from the Grossmont district, just its support. The five Grossmont trustees gave them that.

"I can't imagine what  you went through," said trustee Richard Hoy. "We really appreciate your service to the community."

Said trustee Priscilla Schreiber: "You're so brave to take this on."

Rhina Paredes said: "We know we can't bring our son back, but we cannot sit and not do anything."