FREE YOUTH HEART SCREENING
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
Location: Willow Canyon High School, 17901 W. Lundberg St., Surprise
Time: 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM • APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED
Every three days, another “perfectly healthy” child athlete dies from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) while playing sports, marching with the band, or even following Physical Education class. Avoiding those heart-breaking deaths is possible with a simple heart screening. Free heart health screening of all students and athletes ages 12 to 22 are possible through the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF). Sharon Bates, whose 20-year old college football-playing son died from an SCA, helps parents avoid the heartbreak she and other parents have experienced with the free heart screenings on Saturday, April 17, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., at Willow Canyon High School, 17901 W. Lundberg St. in Surprise. Anthony’s death could have been avoided had this free screening program been available 10 years ago. In the eight years of conducting the free screenings, consistently, one out of 10 student athletes are found with a detectable, serious, curable heart condition.
The painless, fast screenings check children for heart conditions leading to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Too many times the news media carry stories of an apparently healthy student athlete dying on the playing fields. This parental nightmare becomes even worse with the knowledge that the cause of death is detectable, and lives can be saved with advanced knowledge and sometimes simple lifestyle changes. Knowledge is the power to prevent SCA. Appointments for specific times may be reserved at www.AnthonyBates.org, the Foundation’s web site. Pre-registration is required.
The Surprise screening will be a host to many Heart Healthy exhibits during the event at Willow Canyon. Community organizations, including Surprise Fire Department, will come together and offer safety, and heart health information in support of the work of the Anthony Bates Foundation.
One in ten students screened have undetected heart abnormalities requiring further evaluation or medical care according to the ABF screening results from over 6,000 students and student athletes. The leading killer of young athletes is a condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) or “enlarged heart.” The Anthony Bates Foundation targets young athletes to help prevent these unnecessary deaths. With its cadre of sponsors, volunteers, and volunteer nurses and cardiac physicians, the Foundation and Banner Health Hospital volunteers are performing for free the normally $1,600 echocardiogram (ultra sound), a $500 Electrocardiogram (EKG) with a physician review.
Donations and sponsors help offset screening costs for the Foundation. The Foundation pays $75 for each heart screen. While there is no charge for the child heart screenings at this event, a voluntary tax-deductible contribution to the Anthony Bates Foundation of just $30 helps fund screenings for more children. Contributions made April 17 at the Heart Health screening will allow the purchase of two portable automated external defibrillators (AEDs); one for each of the two schools with the highest school percentage participation at the screening event. Just go to www.AnthonyBates.org to donate, or provide your contact information for the screening event in Surprise.
The screening process includes a comprehensive questionnaire filled in by parent and student, followed by a discussion of the answers between the child and a medical professional. Next the student receives a blood pressure check, and a non-invasive Electrocardiogram (EKG). Finally, the child is given the painless ultrasound imaging of the heart. These results are reviewed by a volunteer cardiac physician, and discussed with child and parent. In the ten percent of the cases where a problem is found, the family is referred back to their primary care physician for further evaluation, referral, or treatment.
Anthony Bates, former Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School and Phoenix Community College athlete, died in 2000 following a routine morning workout with the Kansas State University football team. He was found to have had a detectable, enlarged heart, a health condition for which he was never screened. Founded after his death to help prevent other parents from experiencing a similar tragedy, the Anthony Bates Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
For more information, please contact Sharon Bates at 602-482-5606.