EKG Testing at Glenbrook North High School

The Max Schewitz Foundation will be providing EKG tests at Glenbrook North High School, located at 2300 Shermer Road Northbrook, IL 60062 on Nov. 2 and 3, 2016.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimate 2,000 Americans under the age of 25 will die of sudden cardiac arrest in the coming year. It’s the leading cause of death on school property. All participants will receive an EKG and some selected by the cardiologists will also receive a free echocardiogram during screening.

Ellen Westel, GBN parent said, “I’m really excited that EKG testing is returning to GBN. Two years ago, over 1,000 students were screened, and several kids were identified who needed further evaluation based on the results. I’m so glad that all three of my kids have been screened – thank you so much to the Max Schewitz Foundation!”

The Foundation will offer heart checks to students at ten high schools during the 2016-17 school year, with the potential of reaching 15,000 students. The program’s mission is to identify students who are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) before they are stricken so they can obtain treatment.

“Unfortunately, every week we hear about young adults who have suffered sudden cardiac death across the country,” said Mary Beth Schewitz, executive director of The Max Schewitz Foundation. “We wish EKG screening would become the standard of care in the U.S., like it is in other countries. Until then, we will continue offering our program to students in Illinois and Wisconsin. We always find at least one child with an undiagnosed heart condition at every school we test.”

In 2005, Max died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 20 from an undiagnosed cardiac condition. Like so many others victims of SCD, Max had no previous medical conditions or warning signs. If he had been diagnosed, life-saving treatments could have been implemented.

EKGs and echocardiograms are interpreted on site by a team of cardiologists under the direction of Dr. Eli Lavie, Medical Director of the Max Schewitz Foundation. The Foundation's hope is that EKG tests will become a part of student’s routine physical exams. To date, the Foundation has tested over 58,000 students and found 1150 that needed further medical evaluation. You can learn more or register your child at www.heartsmartekg.org.