Lemont High School Takes Proactive Approach to Student Health with Free Heart Screenings

The gymnasium was converted to a small medical center last week as more than 800 students received free cardiac screenings through the Midwest Heart Foundation's Young Hearts for Life program.

Dozens of volunteers took over the school March 1 to conduct the screenings, which aim to catch previously undiagnosed heart conditions and prevent sudden cardiac death.

The screenings were available to all Lemont students, and were funded "through the support of generous donors," District 210 officials said.

The program brought together school administrators, medical professionals and community volunteers under the common goal of raising awareness and saving lives.

Young Hearts for Life

The Midwest Heart Foundation's Young Hearts for Life program was founded in 2006 by Dr. Joseph Marek, a clinical cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists. The program offers free electrocardiograms (EKG or ECG), as well as echocardiograms to students in order to identify individuals who may be at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Marek said he established the program after hearing about several high school students who suffered sudden cardiac death.

"There was a real need to raise awareness and take steps to prevent these horrible tragedies," he said.

More than 30 young adults die each week from sudden cardiac death, which is often triggered by heart defects that are detectable and treatable, Marek said.

"The key is to be proactive," he said. "We need to educate parents, students and schools, and encourage teens to get these tests every couple of years."

More than 74,000 students have been screened since 2006, according to Young Hearts for Life.

Program Director Johneen Davis is the sole employee at Young Hearts for Life. Screenings are conducted by medical volunteers from the Midwest Heart Foundation.

"The program is run almost completely by volunteers, which really makes it even more incredible," Davis said.

The screenings take about three minutes, and cost $10 or $15 per student. Parents receive their child's results about three weeks after the test, and are notified if they need to follow up with a physician for further testing.

Screenings at Lemont High School

Lemont High School Athletic Director John Young had been collecting information on the Young Hearts for Life program for two years before bringing the idea to administrators and school board members in June 2011.

"It's been a long and incredibly involved process, but ultimately we felt it was a program that would be beneficial for our students and the Lemont community," Young said. 

About half of all Lemont students were screened March 1. Participants included athletes and non-athletes alike, several of whom said they were grateful for the opportunity.

Senior Jake Kaminsky, who recently finished second in the IHSA Class 2A wrestling finals, said the screening was quick and easy, and that he hopes Lemont will continue providing them for students.

"Cardio is a really big part of a lot of sports, especially wrestling," he said. "I'm glad I was able to get the screening and learn a little more about it."

Young said he hopes to build on the program's success in the future.

"We're extremely pleased with how the event went, so I'm hopeful it's something we can continue to do every couple of years," he said.

A Living Example

For Brittany Bielecki, a 2010 graduate of Lemont High School, the Young Hearts for Life event hit particularly close to home.

In October 2006, Bielecki—then a freshman—collapsed in the school gymnasium during volleyball practice. She suffered sudden cardiac arrest, but was saved by an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Prior to the incident, she was unaware she had a heart condition.

Five years later, Bielecki returned to the school to volunteer at the Young Hearts for Life event.

"I know how important this is, so I was happy to come back and help," she said. "I think it definitely would have been helpful had I done something like this when I was here."

Bielecki was joined by her mom, Doreen Patrick, who was instrumental in getting the program off the ground.

"When I heard about the screenings, I thought it was just a wonderful idea," Patrick said. "It's a quick test that really could save a life."

Lemont Registers a Record Number of Volunteers

Perhaps the most impressive part of Lemont's cardiac screenings was the volunteer turnout, which event organizers said was a record for Young Hearts for Life.

Davis said about 120 parents, community members and individuals from surrounding areas volunteered their time at various points throughout the day.

"We do 15 or 16 of these a year, and their success relies on the support of community volunteers," she said. "The number of people we had turn out here in Lemont was truly remarkable."

Davis trained all volunteers prior to the screening event. However, she credited a number of individuals—including Lemont High School parent Missy Forzley—for spearheading community outreach.

Forzley said her background as a registered nurse, as well as her role as a mom, inspired her to become involved with the program.

"I think the importance of potentially making a difference in a young person's future really struck home for me," she said. "If we as volunteers were able to help save just one child and one family from the tragedy of sudden cardiac death through this screening, we have made a real difference."

Lemont resident and local dentist Jennifer Splitt-Krull shut down her practice, , for the entire day so she and her staff could participate in the event.

"Being in my field, prevention is incredibly important. I saw tremendous value in this program, so I didn't think twice about getting involved," she said.

Young said the screenings would have been impossible without the "tremendous support" of all the volunteers, as well as the administration and school nurse Bobbe Fash.

"We're really blessed to have so many people in this school and the Lemont community who are willing to help us time and time again," he said. "The volunteer aspect is a unique part of the heart screenings, and Lemont did not disappoint."