Acompora Foundation to help host early detection screenings for children and young adults
Karen Acompora (right) at a past youth heart screening event. This year’s free event will take place at Oldfield Middle School on February 1. Image via heartscreennewyork.com.
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According to Parent Heart Watch, one in 300 young people have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk of sudden cardiac arrest or death. Early detection with a simple electrocardiogram (ECG) can prevent these tragedies. On Saturday, February 1, Heart Screen New York will partner with the Louis J. Acompora Foundation for National Youth Heart Screening Day, a call to action for children and young adults to be screened for heart-related issues.
The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation is one of 27 partner sites in communities across the country participating in this landmark initiative. Free heart screenings for children and young adults ages 12 to 24 will be available at Oldfield Middle School in Greenlawn. These screenings aim to educate the public about warning signs, family heart history and risk factors that are often missed or misdiagnosed. The initiative highlights the importance of comprehensive early detection screening, which identifies youth at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and emphasizes how anyone can save an SCA victim by using CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a cardiac emergency.
Karen Acompora, co-founder of Heart Screen New York and a director at Parent Heart Watch, lost her son Louis to SCA in March of 2000. A lacrosse goalie, Louis died after being struck in the chest by a ball during his first high school game. He was only 14 years old.
Acompora and her husband John remain dedicated to ensuring that similar tragedies are prevented. The Louis J. Acompora Foundation is committed to improving sports safety by training coaches, sports personnel and bystanders to recognize SCA and respond immediately. Basic life support training and access to life-saving defibrillators in all schools and youth athletic organizations are crucial to achieving this goal. To date, the foundation has helped place over 600 AEDs in schools, sports organization training places and public spaces, including most recently at Northport Village and Cow Harbor parks.
The Heart Screen New York event on Saturday, February 1 includes non-invasive electrocardiograms (ECG) interpreted by physicians proficient in the interpretation of ECG in youth, a limited physical exam and a limited echocardiogram on flagged participants. There will also be a hands-on CPR and AED-use demonstration for all attendees.
Those wishing to attend with their child or as a young adult should contact Karen Acompora at heartscreennewyork@gmail.com for a time slot. Space at the event is limited. For more information and forms, click here.
