Free EKG Screenings to be Offered at Grayslake North

The Max Schewitz Foundation will bring its Screens for Teens, a free school-wide EKG screening program, to Grayslake North High School on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. The Foundation’s mission is to help identify students who are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) before they are stricken.

Testing is open to all Grayslake North High School students who have completed a permission form. Parents can register their student online or by downloading a form from the school’s website. In addition to the free EKG, 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. 

“Grayslake North is proud to partner with the Max Schewitz Foundation,” said Dr. James Roscoe, principal at Grayslake North. “We’re excited to have this wonderful opportunity at our school. In 2010, over 60 percent of our student body received free EKG screens through this program. We thank and applaud the Max Schewitz Foundation for their time and dedication to this wonderful program.”

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 EKG tests will become a part of student’s routine physical exams.

To register online or to download a paper form, visit EKGyourteen.org or the Grayslake North High School website or get one at school. Completed paper forms may be returned to the Grayslake North High School office.

—The Max Schewitz Foundation submitted this information.