Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Hosts Free Physicals and Back-to-School FairAdventist Health Ukiah Valley Hosts Free Physicals and Back-to-School Fair With the increasing incidence of sudden cardiac arrests among student athletes, sports screenings have become crucial. To address this concern and promote healthy participation in sports, Adventist Health Ukiah Valley is hosting a free sports physicals and Back-to-School Fair on July 13th. The event will be held at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic (260 Hospital Drive, Suite 103, Ukiah) from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The screenings will include physical exams and electrocardiograms (EKGs), which measure the heart’s electrical activity and identify potential risks for sudden cardiac death. According to local sports physician Brian Gould (DO), these exams are vital for ensuring students’ overall health and safety on the field of play. “We can identify underlying conditions that may predispose athletes to injury or catastrophic events,” he explains. The fair will also offer free backpacks and school supplies to students and families. This initiative aims to support the community and alleviate the financial burden associated with the start of the school year. “Childhood obesity is a major problem in Mendocino County,” says David Leighton, administrator of Adventist Health Ukiah Valley. “We’re committed to keeping children active and healthy, and we don’t want the cost of an exam to prevent them from participating in sports.” In addition to the sports screenings and school supplies, the Back-to-School Fair will feature free health screenings, including vaccinations and diabetes screenings, provided by local organizations and businesses.
Below is a press release from Adventist Health Ukiah Valley:
Football players at Ukiah High School (photo by Matt LaFever)
The increase in sudden cardiac arrests in student athletes in recent years has highlighted the challenges and risks for student athletes participating in sports and the importance of sports screenings.
These are just some of the reasons why Adventist Health Ukiah Valley holds their free sports physicals and Back to School Fair event each year. Ukiah Valley clinic providers will be volunteering their time to provide this much-needed service to students and their families on Saturday, July 13th from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic at 260 Hospital Drive, Suite 103 in Ukiah. The Back-to-School Fair will be held at the same time, offering free backpacks and school supplies to students and their families.
California schools require a child to pass a physical before participating in a school sport. The physical is designed to detect problems that could pose a health risk, such as a hernia, untreated asthma, undiagnosed heart disease or a concussion.
For local sports physician Brian Gould (DO), these exams are also an opportunity to check that students are generally healthy and do not have any underlying conditions that would prevent them from participating in sports.
“It is especially important for athletes who are new to sports. During these exams, we ask screening questions to help us identify potential health conditions that may predispose athletes to injury and/or catastrophic medical events during physical activity. The purpose of these exams is to ensure that the athlete can participate safely and to facilitate any additional testing that may be needed to be safe on the field of play. Sometimes we discover conditions that would otherwise never have been diagnosed,” Dr. Gould explains.
This year, screenings will also include an electrocardiogram (also called an EKG), a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart to identify an individual’s risk for sudden cardiac death. Although rare, sudden cardiac arrest is the most common cause of death in young athletes. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when an electrical abnormality in the heart causes an irregular heartbeat, disrupting the heart’s pumping action.
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend a thorough medical history, physical examination, and ECG to screen people at risk for cardiac arrest.
Because the cost of preparing for school can be significant, Adventist Health Ukiah Valley began offering free athletic screenings four years ago. This is in line with the foundation’s mission to promote health, wholeness and hope, and to serve the needs of the community.
David Leighton, administrator of Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, recognizes the importance of keeping children active and healthy and giving them the opportunity to excel in sports. He explains, “Childhood obesity is a major problem in Mendocino County and our team is committed to addressing it. We certainly don’t want the cost of a sports medicine exam to be a barrier for anyone who wants their children to have an active lifestyle by participating in school sports.”
Along these lines, the hospital is also offering other free health screenings and resources through a Back-to-School Fair to help students and their families with the costs of preparing for the school year. The hospital has partnered with other local organizations and businesses to offer free vaccinations, diabetes screenings, backpacks and school supplies on July 13 at the same time and location.
