One in 300 youth has an undiagnosed heart condition that puts them at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. A free youth cardiac screening in Davis this fall is designed to help identify young people who may be in that group. The event is sponsored by the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation (KJTF) in partnership with UC Davis Health and Project ADAM Sacramento..
The free event will take place on Sunday, October 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harper Junior High School in Davis. The event is aimed at 12- to 25-year-olds.
The screening takes about 40 minutes and includes a cardiac risk assessment, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and a doctor’s examination. Echocardiograms are also available upon request from the doctor.
The ECG is a simple and painless test that records the electrical activity of the heart using small electrode patches stuck to the skin of the chest. Structural and electrical problems of the heart that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in young people can often be seen on an ECG or echocardiogram.
The goal of the event is to prevent the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in children and young adults. Annual physical exams and physicals before participating in sporting events can miss about 85 to 90% of the problems that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in adolescents.
More than 1,500 young people were screened at four free youth heart events in the Sacramento area, hosted by the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation in partnership with UC Davis Health and Project ADAM Sacramento. Twenty-seven people were identified as having undiagnosed heart conditions.
Register for a heart examination.
About the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation
The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation was established in 2018 in honor of Kyle Taylor, who passed away in February 2018 at the age of 18 from sudden cardiac arrest. Kyle was always a loving, kind, spirited, healthy young man with no known heart problems. His family wanted to honor Kyle’s legacy by raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest in adolescents, the steps to prevent it, and how to properly manage it. Through this important work, the Foundation hopes to help prevent another family from losing their child or loved one to sudden cardiac arrest. For more information about the Foundation, visit the website.
About the ADAM Sacramento project
Project ADAM is committed to saving lives by preventing sudden cardiac death where young people learn and play. Simply having an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the building is not enough – a documented plan, a designated and prepared response team, and a regularly conducted emergency drill are critical to success. Project ADAM provides schools and community organizations with the foundation to develop their program by providing resources, education, and training. Project ADAM can help your school or organization become heart safe. Visit the website for more information.
