'Screens for Teens' Coming to GCHS Wednesday

The Max Schewitz Foundation will bring its Screens for Teens, a free school-wide ECG (EKG) screening program to Grayslake Central High School on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The Foundation’s mission to help identify students who are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) before they are stricken.

Testing is open to all Grayslake High School students who have turned in the written permission form. In addition to the free ECG, 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. 

“In this day and age, it is incredibly assuring to know that there are organizations that work with schools to ensure the health of our children,” said John M. Bolger, Principal, Grayslake Central High School.

“This will be the second year that the Max Schewitz Foundation has generously screened the students at Grayslake Central High School, and we hope to be able to provide this service for years to come. In just one year, we have stories of students who have had potentially serious heart problems identified and addressed. Thank you, Max Schewitz Foundation!”

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

To register, download a paper form on www.maxandthewildthings.com or get one at school. Complete and return to school.

2012-2013 Screens for Teens testing dates:

• Graylake Central High School: Nov. 14, 2012
• Grayslake North High School: Feb. 13, 2013
• College of Lake County: Feb. 20, 2013

About The Max Schewitz Foundation

Based in Lake Bluff, The Max Schewitz Foundation’s dual missions reflect Max’s life and death. His parents and family friends started the Foundation in 2005 after 20-year-old Max died suddenly from a cardiac arrhythmia. The Foundation works to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people and to promote conservation of fragile reptile species and their ecosystems.

To date, nearly 30,000 high school students have received free ECG testing from the Foundation. Of those, 492 students had abnormal results that required further evaluation and 328 of those students were referred to a specialist for further medical evaluations. To learn more, call Mary Beth Schewitz at (847) 234-2206 or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.