Free youth heart screening to be held March 25 at Torrey Pines High School

The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation provides free heart screenings to youth, ages 12-25, in order to detect heart conditions that could lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when a heart unexpectedly stops beating because of an undetected heart abnormality. To combat this syndrome, that is a leading cause of death under 25 and the #1 killer of student athletes, the Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation is hosting a free heart screening on Sunday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Torrey Pines High School (3710 Del Mar Heights Rd, San Diego, CA 92130). All youth are welcome.

Diana Li made the decision to get her son Jacob’s heart tested after hearing Eric Paredes’ story. Jacob’s relentlessly racing heart dominated his sports activities. Because he was a healthy, active youth, doctors didn’t even consider a potential heart condition when they diagnosed his symptoms as asthma induced, until a Screen Your Teen event revealed he had Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Jacob has since undergone surgery to correct his irregular heartbeat. He is healthy and back on the court.

“A quick, painless ECG test of my heart saved my life,” shared Jacob.

Ryan Poe, a senior at Torrey Pines High School, is a field hockey and lacrosse player and will be attending UC Berkeley in the Fall to play field hockey. Her mom, Allison, brought Ryan to a Screen Your Teen event in 2014. As a result of the screening, they learned Ryan also had WPW. After surgery, she resumed all the activities that she loves including soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.

Diana Li, now a EP Save A Life board member, “as a parent of a teen found at-risk, I am beyond thankful for this free, life saving resource. Don’t wait, register your kids today. It could just save their life.”

The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation has screened over 25,000 youth, finding nearly 1 in 300 with a heart abnormality that unknowingly put them at risk. Participants, ages 12 to 25, can register for the free screening at EPSaveALife.org, where they download a screening packet, complete and bring to the event.For more information, visit EPSaveALife.org.