Morris Hospital announces Rhythm of Our Youth cardiac screening at local high schools

Morris Hospital will be hosting its Rhythm of Our Youth cardiac screenings during the second semester of the 2024-25 school year, starting Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Minooka High School’s Central Campus, 301 S. Wabena Ave.

It will hold another at the same location Wednesday, Feb. 12 and then two more Thursday, Feb. 27 at Wilmington High School and Thursday, March 20 at Seneca High School.

A team of specially trained volunteers from Morris Hospital will perform electrocardiogram screenings free of charge to students who have parental permission to participate. It’s a non-invasive, painless test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and detects certain heart abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac death.

Screenings are typically held during PE or study hall, depending on student schedules, and can take about three minutes to complete.

About 3% of students are usually referred to a physician for follow-ups, and less than 1% of students are found to have a medical problem in need of cardiac intervention. Results are sent home to students' parents, and not shared with the school.

Parents must complete a consent form that can be found at www.morrishospital.org/rooy.

Rhythm of Our Youth started in 2016 as a result of funding provided by the Morris Hospital Auxiliary and Foundation. Since then, over 12,000 students have been screened. Past screenings include Coal City, Morris, and Minooka High School’s south campus.

Sudden cardiac death claims more than 2,000 lives of children and adolescents in the US each year, and most victims have underlying heart conditions that could have been detected through a simple electrocardiogram.