Coal City High School issued the following announcement on Aug. 14.
We are pleased to bring the Rhythm Of Our Youth Cardiac Screening Program to Coal City High
School on 9/11/18. All students whose parents authorize them to be tested will be screened.
This program provides free cardiac screenings which include an ECG (electrocardiogram) to identify
high school students at risk for sudden cardiac death and to increase the public's awareness of this
issue. Please be aware that repeat ECG testing is recommended every two years.
A simple ECG, when used to screen physically active young persons 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 60% 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 approximately 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. There may also be other cardiac
conditions that may not be identified by this screening.
Risks associated with the actual screening event are minimal. Failure to follow-up with the student’s
physician after the parent was notified of an abnormal finding would potentiate risk. Also, this
screening event is a “snapshot” in time, and findings on the ECG are documents of what is occurring
at that particular point in time. Changes in the child’s ECG can occur at any time.
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.
Enclosed you will find a permission form that will allow your son or daughter to be tested. We prefer
that you complete this registration process on line. On line registration is now available. If you do
not have access to a computer, please return the permission form to the school.
The Rhythm Of Our Youth Cardiac Screening is being provided this year to Coal City High School
by Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. For more information about this program, please visit the
link on www.morrishospital.org website. If you have questions, please contact us at 815-705-7361.
Original source can be found here.
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