Free Heart Screening for Salem Youth Ages 12-19 Organized by the Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation

Is

your child heart healthy?  On July 18,

2011, Ralph and Deb Thibodeau started their morning having no idea that any of
their five children had a heart condition. 
By the end of the day, their 12 year old son Joshua had died of Sudden
Cardiac Arrest (SCA) while participating in a soccer camp.  By the end of the following week, all of

their children had undergone cardiac testing and their youngest son, Adam, was
subsequently diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome. 
In an effort to prevent any other family from going through the heart
break they have endured, the Thibodeaus created The Josh Thibodeau Helping
Hearts Foundation (JTHHF).  

On Saturday, April 12, 2014, JTHHF will hold its second free heart screening event in Salem from 9am-3:30pm at the Nathaniel Bowditch School.  Knowing that statistics show that one high school aged athlete suffers a SCA every three days, JTHHF is doing everything it can to test and educate young people and their parents.  At their first event last June at Wachusett High, 116 students were screened with 20 students being advised to seek further treatment and 3 of those students having major heart issues diagnosed as a result of the screening.

A heart screening appointment consists of a review of the student’s health

history; height, weight and blood pressure check; heart sounds check;

electrocardiogram; echocardiogram, if needed; and physician consultation.  Students will also have the opportunity to
learn hands on CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator
(AED).  The entire appointment lasts approximately
30-45 minutes per student.  Dr. David A.
Kane, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at UMass Medical School
and the Medical Director of JTHHF will be the consulting cardiologist at the
event.

Sign up your 12-19 year old Salem student to prevent your family from suffering the devastating effects of a SCA.  The event is FREE and pre-registration is required.  For more information and to register for the event go to www.joshthibodeauhelpinghearts.com.  Forms are provided in both English and Spanish.