Eisenhower High School screens students for cardiac issues

Several hundred students at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island participated in a cardiac screening program called Young Hearts for Life. This program offers free EKG tests to help identify heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Brian Rodriguez, a junior at the school, volunteered for the screening after hearing about a college student who died unexpectedly from heart issues. He wanted to ensure his own heart was healthy. “I was scared at first, but I realized it all went well,” said Rodriguez, who plays soccer and tennis. He emphasized the importance of getting tested to prevent tragedies. The screening program also took place at two other schools in the area, Shepard High School and Richards High School. Parents were supportive of the initiative, encouraging their children to get tested. Veronica Rodriguez, Brian's mother, shared her own experience with heart issues that required surgery, motivating her to ensure her son was screened. The tests can detect various conditions, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Denise Arenz, the program director, explained that EKGs can identify about 70% to 80% of heart conditions with a low rate of false positives. Since 2006, Young Hearts has screened over 338,000 students and identified thousands with undiagnosed heart issues. Volunteers, including Scott Karroll and Rich Bauer, participated in the event. Bauer's daughter died from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 15. His wife, Pat, helped conduct the tests and felt the program was fulfilling because it could potentially save lives. Kyle Rathbun, the athletic director at Eisenhower, praised the program, highlighting its significance for young athletes to ensure they have healthy hearts.