The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes will be providing free screenings to youth athletes on March 16 from 8 a.m. to noon at Monmouth Medical Center, located at 300 Second Ave. in Long Branch. To sign up for this screening, parents and guardians are asked to call 1-888-724-7123.
Available to the first 150 young athletes who sign up, the cardiac screening is open to those who are 6-18 years of age. 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 screenings will help to identify players who may require further testing or intervention.
The concussion baseline screening, available to the first 80 who sign up, is for young athletes who are 12-18 years old. 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.
Screenings are free of charge, and a parent or guardian is asked to be present. For more information about the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes, visit www.barnabashealth.org/morahan or call 973-322-7913.