Pine Road Elementary School to Hold Youth Heart Screenings

On May 18, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pine Road Elementary School will be the site for free heart screenings for area children ages 10 – 19.

According to a Lower Moreland Township School District (LMTSD) press release, the heart screenings are made possible through a partnership with Simon’s Fund, a local nonprofit organization.

Per the release: Simon’s Fund was established in 2005 in memory of Simon, son of Phyllis and Darren Sudman. Phyllis Sudman is a Lower Moreland alum.  The organization provides free heart screenings to children, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia area. It also sponsors medical research projects, hosts awareness events, works with major medical institutions and promotes legislation.

According to the Simon’s Fund website, the organization encourages youth heart screenings, “because sudden cardiac arrest isn’t just an adult thing,” as it is the number one natural cause of death in the United States, and the number one cause of death in teenage athletes.

The Simon’s Fund website outlines what participants may expect during the May 18 heart screening:

Step One: Complete a family medical history and answer questions like “Has anyone in your extended family died suddenly under the age of 50,” or “Have you ever fainted during or after a strenuous or stressful activity (e.g. sports or exams). These are warnings signs.

Step Two: A medical professional puts a series of sensors on the student’s chest, arms and legs. These sensors or stickers are connected by wires to an Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) machine. The EKG shows the heart’s speed, the heart’s rhythm, and the strength and timing of the heart’s electrical signals.

Step Three: A medical professional checks the student’s vital signs – pulse, blood pressure, height and weight. While these measures cannot detect many of the fatal conditions alone, when done in concert with other steps, they are very helpful indicators.

Step Four: If the results from Steps 1 – 3 suggest the presence of an irregularity or risk factor, the student will receive an Echocardiogram (ECHO). A medical professional will put some warm gooey gel on the student’s chest and then use a wand, that is connected to a monitor, to look at a two-dimensional, real-time, image of the heart. Yes, just like a sonogram.

To register for the event or for more information, visit the Simon’s Fund website.