More than 350 people attend free youth heart screening event in Davis

This month’s free youth heart screening at Harper Junior High School in Davis was a success. The medical team screened 366 young people and trained countless families on CPR. The daylong event helped to identify undiagnosed heart conditions in youth ages 12 to 25.

This was the fifth year for the free youth heart screening hosted by the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation, UC Davis Health and Project ADAM Sacramento. 

“We are so grateful that the Davis Joint Unified School District saw the value of screening young people in their community,” said Rebecca McCormac, Project ADAM Sacramento coordinator. Past events have seen an average of 300 attendees. “In addition to screening for undiagnosed heart conditions and helping spread awareness, we also trained many families in CPR. I do not doubt that our volunteers saved lives through their efforts.”

According to health statistics, 1 in 300 youth has an undiagnosed heart condition that puts them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

Young people from Yolo County filled the gym March 9 to receive a cardiac risk assessment, an electrocardiogram (EKG), a physician review and CPR training. 

An 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 test can detect structural and electrical heart issues that cause sudden cardiac arrest in young people.

Follow-up echocardiograms were also provided on-site, a procedure in which ultrasound waves take pictures of the chest. Many participants were referred to follow-up care with their provider. 

The following heart conditions were diagnosed during this screening:

• Possible right ventricular hypertrophy crochetage
• Left atrial anomaly
• Left axis deviation
• Left axis deviation long QRS
• ST segment elevation marked in mid septal region, likely early repolarization
• Sinus arrythmia
• Right axis deviation
• Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
• Ectopic atrial rhythm
• Ventricular ectopics

The next free youth heart screening will be on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove. Registration will open in late summer on the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation upcoming screenings webpage.

About the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation

The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation was started in 2018 in honor of Kyle Taylor, who passed away in February of 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 parents 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 in preventing another family from losing their child or loved one to sudden cardiac arrest. To learn more about the foundation, visit the website at kylejtaylor.org

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 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 program by providing resources, education and training. Project ADAM help schools become a Heart Safe School. Visit the website for more information.