Blaine students screened for heart issues

Blaine student athletes were screened for heart issues earlier this year as part of the Teen Heart Screen program, which provides advanced heart screenings for young adults living in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

The free screenings, offered by PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in partnership with North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) and other community partners, are intended to detect hidden heart problems. Although the percentage is small, youth with undetected heart defects are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest which can happen without warning and can result in death. For those under age 35, it is often due to hidden heart defects or undetected heart abnormalities. If a defect or abnormality can be identified early, it can be treated and monitored throughout a person’s lifetime.

The screenings took place at the Blaine school district on March 21. That day, 223 students were screened, comprised of 107 female and 116 male students. All of the students screened had a chart created, and the records of their screening were entered into the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center electronic medical record system.

As part of the screenings, there were six stations set up for students to go through. At station 1, a student’s height and weight were measured. At station 2, blood pressure and pulse were taken. At station 3, an electrocardiogram was performed. At station 4, there was training on how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator. At station 5, there was a physician evaluation, while at station 6, some students received an ultrasound of their heart, if recommended.

The health professionals who participated included Dr. Mark Daniels, Nickie Snyder, NP, Dr. Susan Kranzpiller and Dr. Rachel Lum Ho.

As a result of the screenings, four students were found to have significant findings requiring immediate follow-up. Fifty-one other students were found to have positive findings as well, including hypertension, shortness of breath, chest pain on exertion or significant family history.

All 55 students with positive findings were notified of the screening results along with their parents and primary care physicians.

The Teen Heart Screen program aims to do two screenings per year, one each in spring and fall or winter. The program aims to visit each school district once every four years and comes to them by invitation or request.

The program is supported by EMS crews from across Whatcom County. The crews are volunteers and play various roles including conducting the screening portion, offering defibrillator training, taking blood pressures and gathering basic information.

In addition to NWFR, Whatcom County fire districts 1, 7 and 14 and the Burlington Fire Department, the program is also supported by Kelley Insurance Agency, Boston Scientific, Cardiac Insight and Mended Hearts. They help with coordination of the events, equipment transfer, CPR and first aid training and other tasks.