Lockport Township High School Offers Heart Screenings For Students

LOCKPORT, IL — Lockport Township High School District 205 has announced that Young Hearts for Life is coming to LTHS to offer a free heart screening called an electrocardiogram to its high school students, according to a release from the school.

On Oct. 8, high school students enrolled as sophomores, juniors, and seniors for the 2024-25 school year can participate in a free cardiac screening that can prevent teen sudden cardiac arrest with Young Hearts for Life.

All students whose parents authorize them to be tested will be screened.

According to a release, each week, sudden cardiac death claims the lives of more than 60 young adults in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and in Illinois. YH4L, under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Marek, a clinical cardiologist, seeks to detect young adults at risk for sudden cardiac death, and increase community awareness.

To date, over 280,000 students have been screened over 20 years as a result of YH4L, a release states.

Screening consists of a quick, simple, painless ECG. Volunteers attach electrodes to the students’ chest and limbs in preparation for the ECG. The ECG machine monitors the electrical activity of the heart and prints out the information about heart rate and rhythm. A trained cardiologist then interprets the printed ECG, according to a release.

The false abnormal rate for the program is less than 2 percent. This rate is better than the false abnormal rate for most other screenings in healthcare, a release states.

This event is collectively done with the help of more than 200 volunteers and sponsors.