Nick of Time Foundation took over the gymnasium at Lake Washington High School (LWHS) and screened the hearts of 427 students from around Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and the local area on Nov. 5.

One family even traveled from Port Angeles for this free heart screening. The goal of the Nick of Time Foundation is to educate and empower students, parents, coaches and members of the community in an effort to help reduce and prevent sudden cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in exercising young athletes. The best way to detect these heart conditions is through a heart screening using an ECG (Electrocardiogram) and in some cases an Echocardiogram (ultrasound) of the heart.

Once a month at schools throughout Washington, Nick of Time Foundation, in partnership with the University of Washington Medical Center, conducts on-site heart screenings for adolescents and young adults ages 14-24. Screenings consists of a Heart Health Survey asking about possible signs and symptoms or family history of a heart condition. An ECG is performed that analyzes the electrical signals of the heart. In some cases a limited physical exam or Echocardiogram of the heart is conducted. The results are reviewed on site by cardiologists and sports physicians experienced in heart screens.

In total, ten students at the LWHS screening were found to need some follow-up and monitoring. This event was planned by Lake Washington High School senior Bryden Robertson. It succeeded with the help of 133 volunteers.