Play It Safe!!!! JCMC Providing Cardiac & Concussion Baseline Screenings For Young Athletes

Why take a chance with your child’s health?  Do you have a youngster between the ages of 5 and 18 who plays sports, either recreationally of for their school team? Then Play It Safe!!!

The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes at RWJ Barnabas Health is offering free, cardiac and concussion baseline screenings, for young athletes on Saturday, April 15th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Jersey City Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center., located at 100 Town Square Place – Suite 208 in Jersey City.

Be prepared.  Have the important medical information about your child on file before something happens.

Cardiac Screenings for Young Athletes 6-18 years old: Open to the first 75 athletes

When preliminary testing to identify serious cardiac problems is provided to young athletes, sudden cardiac arrest and tragic deaths may be avoided. Nearly 90 percent of sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes occur during or after athletic activities, and hidden heart conditions are often the cause. Cardiac screening will help to identify players who may require further testing or intervention.

Concussion Screenings for Young Athletes 5-18 years old: Open to the first 75 athletes

Once again, MJM is excited to bring the FDA-approved ImPACT Pediatric® concussion screening for children ages 5 and older. Until recently, concussion screenings were only available for young athletes ages 10 and above. ImPACT Pediatric is an iPad-based computerized test that is individually and easily administered as well as engaging for children, while effectively measuring neurocognitive function. Concussion screening is available to young athletes, ages 5 and older to the first 75 registrants. Having a concussion baseline study (ImPACT) for a young athlete can help identify issues in the future. If an athlete is believed to have suffered a head injury, this screening test may be used to evaluate the severity of the head injury and determine when it is safe to return to play.

The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes provides education, evaluation and assessment of sports injury and sports-related cardiac and concussion screenings. RWJBarnabas Health serves and cares for more pediatric patients than any other health care organization in New Jersey. This program furthers RWJ Barnabas Health’s longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of children and young adults. More than 40,000 screenings performed since 2010.

Experts recommend these screenings to be repeated every two years.

An appointment is required in advance.

So take this important step to ensure your child’s medical health is secure and you have the baseline numbers on file in case, god forbid, a medical issues arises during or after physical activity.  You won’t be sorry.  Neither will your son or daughter.

Help protect your child and their love for sports by scheduling an appointment today at rwjbh.org/jcmcevents.