The Max Schewitz Foundation will bring its Screens for Teens, a free school-wide ECG screening program to Deerfield High School on Wednesday, Dec. 12 The Foundation’s mission to help identify students who are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) before they are stricken.
Testing is open to all Deerfield High School students who have turned in the written permission form. In addition to the free ECG, a subset of students will receive free echocardiograms. The Foundation is on pace to test almost 35,000 students by the end of the school year.
“We are especially fortunate to be able to bring the Max Schewitz Foundation ECG screening to our school,” said Ken Williams, principal at Deerfield High School. “Every time we have conducted these screenings, doctors have identified some students who need to pursue further analysis. My hope is that we have every student in our building tested. There really is no room for missing something this important.”
In 2005, Max died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 20 from an undiagnosed cardiac condition. Like so many others victims of SCD, Max had no previous medical conditions or warning signs. If he had been diagnosed, life-saving treatments could have been implemented.
Interpretation of All Screens for Teens ECGs is overseen by Dr. Eli Lavie, of NorthShore University HealthSystems and Medical Director of the Max Schewitz Foundation. The Foundation's goal is that ECG tests will become a part of student’s routine physical exams.
To register, download a paper form on www.maxandthewildthings.com or get one at school. Complete and return to school.
2012-2013 Screens for Teens testing dates:
- 2/13/13 – Wauconda High School
- 2/20/13 – The College of Lake County
- 2/27/13 – Grayslake North High School
About The Max Schewitz Foundation
Based in Lake Bluff, Ill., The Max Schewitz Foundation’s dual missions reflect Max’s life and death. His parents and family friends started the Foundation in 2005 after 20-year-old Max died suddenly from a cardiac arrhythmia. The Foundation works to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people and to promote conservation of fragile reptile species and their ecosystems. To date, nearly 30,000 high school students have received free ECG testing from the Foundation. 492 students had abnormal results that required further evaluation and of those, 328 students were referred to a specialist for further medical evaluations. To learn more, call Mary Beth Schewitz at (847) 234-2206 or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
