Nazareth Academy Screens 560 Students For Heart Conditions

LA GRANGE PARK, IL — Nazareth Academy recently partnered with the Young Hearts for Life® Cardiac Screening Program to offer free cardiac screenings for all its students. The school said Sudden Cardiac Death has taken the lives of several Nazareth alumni and friends in recent years and the school has rallied to the cause of early detection.

According to the school, the test itself took about 3 minutes. Students came to the Rooney Center during their study halls, answered questions about their activities, and then had a few electrodes placed on them for the test. They returned to class a few minutes later.

The results were then viewed by cardiologists as a group. If that group saw any cause for concern, a doctor called the student’s parents. For the majority of normal tests, the EKG results will be made available through a secure email, the school said.

According to the school, Young Hearts for Life relies on a dedicated group of volunteers who come into schools and train other volunteers. Nazareth had over 50 volunteers attend training and give part of their day over to helping make this program a success.

“We would like to thank all of the adults who assisted the nurses and cardiologists. As with anything else at the school, we are so grateful for the way the community comes together for our students,” Deborah Tracy, school President, said in a release. "We are especially grateful to our sponsors, just1mike, Good Samaritan Hospital and the Eileen McMahon YH4L Foundation as well as our numerous donors who together, enabled the heart testing to be free of charge for all students. I would also like to thank Mrs. Cheryl Viliunas and members of our staff, who spearheaded this project on Nazareth’s behalf. Their dedicated efforts led to the program’s success.”

The school said additional donations came from J4 Jumping Beans, PK1, Quest, Sign Express, Custom Stitch
and Print, Nazareth Fathers Club and Nazareth Mothers Club.

Photos provided by Nazareth Academy.