Community groups come together to ensure young athletes are heart safe before hitting the field to compete!
Seattle, Wash. – In large and small towns across the country kids are heading back to school. For most families this means new shoes, backpacks and sports physicals, if their child is participating in a school sport. The term "Friday Night Lights" is a fond part of that American tradition. Most parents don't realize that sports physicals are not standardized and usually does not include a basic electrocardiogram (EKG) test, that if read correctly, may save their child's life.
Although heart disease is often perceived as an "adult disease" it is the leading cause of death in young athletes! As part of its commitment to making our schools and community safer, Nick of Time Foundation is partnering with administrators and coaches from 3 Sammamish area school districts to host a free youth heart screening for their Fall Athletes. Current statistics show that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in exercising young athletes, happening once every 3 days in the US. Most with no prior symptoms.
Competitors on the field, but working together to ensure their athletes are safe to compete, Eastside Catholic High School is hosting the free event and has invited athletes from both Skyline and Eastlake High Schools to join them on August 22nd, 2012. Nick of Time Foundation and their program partners, UW Medicine and Seattle Children's Hospital, provide free heart screenings at high schools throughout the Puget Sound. Combining strong local volunteer support from Eastside Fire- Rescue and Swedish Medical and community collaboration from Physio- Control, SonoSite and Cardiac Science, this unique program is designed to identify cardiovascular disease that may place the student athlete at risk of sudden death.
According to the American Heart Association, one in every 350 young people has an undetected heart condition. The best way to detect these conditions is through a heart screening consisting of a comprehensive family health history survey and using an EKG (electrical test) and Echocardiogram (ultrasound) of the heart. All student athletes will also be trained in CPR and how to use an AED.
For a complete list of Nick of Time Foundation's future youth heart screening events visit:
