Cardiac screening comes to CLC

For the first time ever, the Max Schewitz Foundation brought its Screens for Teens cardiac screening program to college students at the College of Lake County.

The Sept. 14 event was made possible by a grant from the College of Lake County Foundation. The first 500 students, aged 18 to 28, who registered online received a free heart screening including an EKG and, for certain students, an echocardiogram.

The Schewitz Foundation’s mission is to identify young adults who are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) before they are stricken.

“These screenings will help raise awareness of hidden, potentially life-threatening, cardiac conditions in young adults and will serve students well as they begin making life choices that will impact their health in the future,” said Bill Devore, of the College of Lake County Foundation.

Michelle Grace, director health services at CLC, said the college was pleased to offer the opportunity to students at no cost.

“Information is power — and in this case, it may even save a life,” she said.

In 2005, Max Schewitz died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 20 from an undiagnosed cardiac condition. Like so many others victims of SCD, he had no previous medical conditions or warning signs.

This school year, the Max Schewitz Foundation will offer its Screens for Teens to students at nine Chicago-area high schools and CLC with help from nearly 1,000 parent volunteers working under the direction of Dr. Eli Lavie, the foundation’s medical director and cardiologist at Northshore University Healthcare Systems.

The Foundation’s goal is that EKG tests will become a part of students’ routine physical exams.

Future screening dates and schools:

Ÿ Vernon Hills High School, Sept. 28

Ÿ Stevenson High School, Oct. 11-13

Ÿ Glenbrook South High School, Oct. 26

Ÿ Antioch High School, Nov. 9

Ÿ Glenbrook North High School, Nov. 16-17

Ÿ Lake Zurich High School, Feb. 8, 2012

Ÿ Warren Township High School, Almond Campus, Feb. 29, 2012

Ÿ Warren Township High School, O’Plaine Campus, March 7, 2012

To date, more than 18,300 high school students have received free EKG testing from the foundation. Officials say 238 students failed their test, but what they learned may have saved their lives. To learn more, call Mary Beth Schewitz at (847) 234-2206 or check Twitter and Facebook.