One participant receives a heart screening within a medical tent.
The free screening will be on Sunday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rio Americano High School, 4540 American River Dr., Sacramento. The screening is for those ages 12 to 25.
The screening takes about 40 minutes to complete. It includes a cardiac risk assessment, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a physician review. Echocardiograms will also be performed upon recommendation of on-site physicians.
The EKG is a simple and painless test that records the heart’s electrical activity using small sticky electrode patches attached to the skin of the chest. The EKG, as well as an echocardiogram, can detect structural and electrical heart issues associated with sudden cardiac arrest in young people.
The purpose of the screening is to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest risk in children and young adults, which can occur without warning during sporting events. Annual physical examinations and sports pre-participation physical exams, which are required for sports participation, can miss about 85 to 90% of issues that can cause sudden cardiac arrest in youth.
The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation was started in 2018 in honor of Kyle Taylor, who passed away in February 2018 from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 18. Kyle was always a loving, kind, spirited, healthy young man with no known heart issues. His family wanted to honor Kyle’s legacy by bringing awareness to sudden cardiac arrest in youth, the steps to prevent it, and how to respond to it. By doing this important work, the foundation’s mission is to help prevent another family from losing their child or loved one to sudden cardiac arrest. To learn more about the foundation, visit the website.
About Project ADAM Sacramento
Project ADAM is committed to saving lives by preventing sudden cardiac death where young people learn and play. It is not enough to simply have an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the building — having a documented plan, a designated and prepared response team and a regularly practiced emergency response drill are critical to success. Project ADAM provides the foundation for schools and community organizations to develop their programs by providing resources, education and training. Project ADAM can help your school or organization become Heart Safe. Visit the website for more information.
