Free Heart Screening for Youth Scheduled for Oct. 6
Aug 20, 2024 09:32AM ● By UC Davis Health News ReleaseDAVIS, CA (MPG) - One in 300 youth has an undiagnosed heart condition that puts them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. A free youth heart screening in Davis this fall will help identify young people who may be in that group. The event is sponsored by the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation (KJTF), in collaboration with UC Davis Health and Project ADAM Sacramento.
The free event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harper Junior High School in Davis. The event is for those ages 12 to 25.
The screening takes about 40 minutes to complete. It includes a cardiac risk assessment, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a physician review. Echocardiograms will also be available upon request by the physician.
The 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. Structural and electrical heart issues which can cause sudden cardiac arrest in young people can often be seen in an EKG or echocardiogram.
The event aims to prevent sudden cardiac arrest risk in children and young adults. Annual physical examinations and sports pre-participation physical exams can miss about 85 to 90% of issues that can cause sudden cardiac arrest in youth.
More than 1,500 young people have been screened at four Sacramento area free youth heart events hosted by Kyle J. Taylor Foundation with UC Davis Health and Project ADAM Sacramento. Twenty-seven people have been identified with undiagnosed heart conditions.
Register to get your heart screened at https://kylejtaylor.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/kylejtaylor/eventRegistration.jsp?event=277&.
About 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 family 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 https://www.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 simply 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 can help your school or organization become Heart Safe. Visit the website for more information at https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/project-adam/.