Dear Parents,

 

We are pleased to bring the Young Hearts for Life® (YH4L) Cardiac Screening Program to Joliet Catholic Academy on November 18, 2021. All students whose parents authorize them to be tested will be screened. Please be aware that repeat ECG testing is recommended every two (2) years.

 

YH4L will provide this Free heart screening called an electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify high school students at risk for sudden cardiac death and to increase the public’s awareness of this issue. To date over 265,000 students have been screened as a result of YH4L. More information about the screening can be found on the YH4L website (www.yh4l.org).

 

A simple ECG, when used to screen young adults can detect certain serious heart conditions. Recording the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes attached to the skin with a mild adhesive, can detect approximately 70% of the abnormalities or “markers” from these heart conditions that are associated with sudden cardiac death that a stethoscope cannot. Please note that ECG screenings result in less than 2% of the tests being falsely positive. This may require additional evaluation and testing by your physician. We believe that the benefit of this potentially lifesaving screening outweighs this concern.

 

We encourage you to discuss this screening with your child. Your child’s participation in the screening is your decision. We want to assure you that students’ confidentiality, privacy and individual modesty will be respected throughout all aspects of the program. Only female technicians will test girls and they will be screened in an area separate from boys.

 

The Young Hearts For Life® Cardiac Screening is being provided to your students by TEAM PODZ and Young Hearts for Life donors. To learn more about other programs offered by YH4L and to register your child for this lifesaving screening, please visit our website at http://www.yh4l.org/. If you have questions, please contact us at 630-785-4366.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Joseph Marek, MD

Founder & Medical Director, Young Hearts for Life® Cardiac Screening Program

Cardiologist, Advocate Medical Group