Copyright hoodline
Las Vegas is stepping up its game for heart health among youth athletes with a significant initiative taking place over the weekend and into Monday. The combined efforts of The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas and Vegas For Athletes have launched "Heart of the Game," a program offering free heart screenings to over 500 local youth athletes, as reported by News 3 LV. This follows the troubling recognition that sudden cardiac arrest remains the leading medical cause of death on school campuses for young sports enthusiasts. In an effort to confront this silent threat, the first 250 screenings were conducted yesterday with the remaining 250 set for today prior to the eagerly anticipated Florida vs. Arizona and BYU vs. Villanova doubleheader at T-Mobile Arena; organizers emphasize the importance of early detection for these student athletes who often show no symptoms before a potential incident, as per statements made by Troy Roques, Executive Director for Vegas For Athletes, to both News 3 LV and 8 News Now. Symbolizing the very heart of this preventive push stands Olivia Sosa, a 12-year-old black belt in karate and heart defect survivor, her life a testament to the gravity and urgency of these screenings. "I like to support and help the community. This is especially important to me because I have a heart defect myself," Sosa conveyed in an interview with 8 News Now. The screenings, executed using QT Medical ECG devices in private, were overseen by licensed medical professionals, with results being scrutinized by Dr. Ricardo Samson, a pediatric cardiologist, ensuring a meticulous and professional process. At the core of "Heart of the Game" lies the sponsor-supported goal to instigate annual screenings for youth athletes and to integrate these checks into the fabric of routine health assessments, Roques elaborated, the urgency of these checkups boiling down to life or death because sudden cardiac arrest can take lives without warning. Each child who was screened, in addition to contributing to their health, received two free tickets to the Hall of Fame games and a sponsor giveaway, as noted by News 3 LV. Families await results, which they will receive within seven to 10 business days, a week of anticipation for potentially life-saving information.
