King’s College—in partnership with The Peyton Walker Foundation and Geisinger Health System—hosted a free heart screening clinic for children and young adults on Saturday at the Richard Abbas Alley Center for Health Sciences.
The clinic included a free electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) and vitals check. Faculty and students from the College’s physician assistant, nutrition, nursing, athletic training, exercise science, and occupational therapy programs operated many of tests, and even offered a free CPR course for attendees waiting their turn.
Typically, two percent of youth that undergo this type of screening are ultimately diagnosed with a heart abnormality or concern, with one percent being diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition.
The Peyton Walker Foundation was created and named in memory of a former King’s College physician assistant major who died unexpectedly in 2013 from sudden cardiac arrest. The Foundation’s mission is to increase awareness and survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest. To date, the foundation has screened more than 6,000 youths, donated over 1,500 AEDs, and provided CPR and AED training for tens of thousands of people.
