On Thursday, September 17th, Young Hearts for Life (YH4L), a non-profit organization that addresses cardiovascular disease among high schoolers, visited Benet Academy to provide electrocardiogram (ECG) screenings to all students.
For nearly twenty years, YH4L has operated within the Chicago area. Not only has YH4L administered hundreds of thousands of ECG screenings, but the organization also promotes student awareness regarding sudden cardiac arrest and death. In addition, YH4L offers support services to the loved ones of victims of sudden cardiac arrest, which over 25,000 Illinois residents die from each year. Though the number of teenage victims remains significantly lower, YH4L strives to prevent these horrible disasters from striking families across Chicagoland. Program director Denise Arenz comments, “Our mission is to expand access to life-saving screenings, helping prevent tragic losses and providing families and communities with greater peace of mind.”
Not all students knew of the merits of YH4L’s mission before the event. To promote the event, regular email reminders—coupled with the promise of a Spirit Day for the grade with highest attendance—mobilized more than 80% of the student body to sign up for the screenings, while other high schools in the area may fail to reach even 50% participation.
Over 1,000 Benet students received the test in a matter of six hours. Nurse McIntyre, the chief liaison between school administration and YH4L, served in a variety of roles in the weeks leading up the screenings. However, many more volunteers helped make the screenings as efficient as possible. Whether they directed the influx of students every period or transported equipment to and from St. Ronald Gym, parents eagerly signed up for the opportunity to volunteer. Students also helped execute the event, as they set up the screenings the day before and served as models for the adults receiving training on ECGs. With the combined efforts of parents and students, Benet faculty and YH4L staff, and physicians and community members, the screenings were a great success.
After ninth period, volunteers removed equipment to be used for the next high school on YH4L’s list. The results for each student were then sent to trained medical personnel, who reviewed and sent the findings to families soon after.
Reflecting on the YH4L screenings, Nurse McIntyre hopes that students recognize the value of prevention: “More than anything, I hope they remember why we did it…. Sometimes it’s about taking advantage of opportunities to learn something about your health before there’s a problem.”
