Screens for Teens Comes to Deerfield High School in January

Unfortunately thousands of young adults in the United States die due to a hidden cardiac conditions each year. 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.

The Max Schewitz Foundation provides free cardiac testing for high school and college students and is holding its next screening at Deerfield High School, located at 1959 N. Waukegan Road in Deerfield, on January 28, 2015. DHS Students will receive a free EKG and some also a free echocardiogram.

“I am so grateful for our students and their families that the Max Schewitz Foundation makes this important screening so easy and available,” said Ken Williams, assistant principal of Deerfield High School. “I can think of no other simple measure that is so easy to do – and yet is so critical to health. I truly hope that every one of our students will sign up and get tested regardless of whether they were screened two years ago. This is too important to miss.”

Sharon Krengel, parent volunteer coordinator at Deerfield High School echoes Ken’s sentiments. She said, “Watching the news every night, it astounds me how many kids die all of a sudden on the courts or field. These are senseless deaths, they can be prevented. When I heard that the Max Schewitz Foundation is coming to Deerfield High School for FREE EKG screening of the students, I was relieved. I immediately registered my child for the testing. A two minute non invasive test CAN save lives. Why wouldn’t every parent register their child for this test. Thank you Max Schewitz Foundation for providing this priceless service!”

The Foundation will offer heart checks to students at nine high schools during the 2014-15 school year with the potential of reaching over 9,000 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.

“We have tested almost 50,000 students,” said Mary Beth Schewitz, executive director. “We find at least one student at each school that needs further evaluation. Online registration is now open, and we urge parents to visit www.ekgyourteen.org to register their children for this painless, quick, and non-invasive 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.

Screens for Teens 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.

Remaining 2015 Screens for Teens testing dates:
• Deerfield High School – 1/28/15
• Grayslake North High School - 2/25/15
• Wauconda High School – 3/11/15

About The Max Schewitz Foundation
Based in Lake Bluff, Ill., The Max Schewitz Foundation’s dual missions reflect Max’s life and death. His parents and family friends started the Foundation in 2005 after 20-year-old Max died suddenly from a cardiac arrhythmia. The Foundation works to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people and to promote conservation of fragile reptile species and their ecosystems. To date, 49,545 high school students have received free EKG testing from the Foundation. 1,050 students had abnormal results that required further medical evaluation and 705 were given limited echocardiograms. To learn more, call Mary Beth Schewitz at (847) 234-2206 or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

# # #