Young Hearts For Life Provides Cardiac Screenings For Students

Lemont IL

28 February, 2022

11:31 AM

Description

LEMONT, IL — With the support of generous donors, Lemont High School again is partnering with Young Hearts for Life to offer all Lemont High School students free cardiac screenings. The Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening program will visit Lemont High School on April 21, the school said in a release. All students whose parents/guardians authorize them to be tested will be screened during the school day. These free screenings are made possible through the generosity of event sponsors Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and the just1mike Foundation, as well as Young Hearts for Life donors. Young Hearts for Life is a nonprofit organization that provides free cardiac screenings through an electrocardiogram, according to the school. These screenings help identify high school students who may be at risk for sudden cardiac death. More than 265,000 students have been screened since the inception of the YH4L program in 2006, and Lemont High School has had more than 3,400 students receive free screenings in its first four YH4L events, the school said. Recording the heart's electrical activity, an EKG can detect approximately 70 percent of the abnormalities or "markers" from heart conditions associated with sudden cardiac death - including conditions that cannot be detected through a regular physical, the school said. Repeat ECG testing is recommended every two years. This program is open to all students and students' confidentiality, privacy and modesty will be respected throughout all aspects of the program, the school said. Boys and girls will be screened in separate areas, and results will be shared only with parents. No one at Lemont High School will have access to the results of these screenings. Lemont High School and YH4L are seeking both male and female adult volunteers to assist with ECG screenings, the school said. Many types of volunteer positions are available; volunteers do not need to have a medical background. Volunteers are needed both for morning and afternoon shifts on April 21. Volunteer training is mandatory, and will be held during the evening on April 20.