Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Firefighters typically respond after a fire has started or an emergency medical issue has occurred. Northville Township firefighters want to give back to their community and help before tragedy strikes, so they are volunteering to assist with the upcoming Beaumont Student Heart Check. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes.
The heart screening is for students ages 13-18. It will take place Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Northville High School, 45700 Six Mile Road in Northville.
The free student heart screening takes about an hour and will include:
- medical history
- blood pressure check
- electrocardiogram or ECG
- "quick-look" echocardiogram, an ultrasound image of the heart
“We recognize the importance of identifying and preventing deadly conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. During the Student Heart Check, you will see many of our members volunteering their time to teach CPR to both students and parents and also providing education on other fire and life safety topics,” Northville Township Firefighter Tom Hughes said.
Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. Visit beaumont.edu/student-screening to register.
Beaumont Children’s pediatric cardiologist, Nancy Cutler, M.D., said, “One of the most serious conditions we’re looking for through the Student Heart Check screening is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a common cause of death in young athletes. This is a condition where the walls of the heart are abnormally thick. Not only can this thickness cause blockage of the blood flow of the heart, but it can also put them at risk for life-threatening heart rhythm problems, including sudden cardiac death. As a doctor and a mother, I don’t want to see your child, friend or neighbor have one of these sudden events.”
As a doctor and a mother, I don't want to see your child, friend or neighbor have one of these sudden events.
Dr. Cutler
Beaumont created the Student Heart Check screening program in May 2007. Since then, Beaumont has screened 13,296 Michigan high school students. Of those students, 174 were told to stop sports and follow up with a cardiologist due to heart abnormalities and seven were diagnosed with HCM.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the single most common cause of death among U.S. athletes. Nearly 4,000 of these deaths are among young people, and one in 200,000 high school athletes will die suddenly, most without any prior symptoms. In addition, male athletes are 10 times more likely to die suddenly as a result of HCM.
The Student Heart Check program is supported by Max and Debra Ernst through the Ernst Cardiovascular Center at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak; the Fraternal Order of Eagles; Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; the Charlie Sanders Foundation; the LiveLikeMax Foundation; Jersey Mike’s; the fundraising efforts of 97.1 FM The Ticket; and others in the community.