Such is our case.  When Simon died, our coroner said, “Babies don’t just die.  Get your hearts checked.”  We did, and Phyllis discovered that she had Long QT Syndrome, an electrical abnormality of the heart’s rhythm.  Without this advice, we would have been like thousands of other parents, wondering what SIDS really meant and feeling helpless.

A study out of the Mayo Clinic shows that 10 – 15% of SIDS deaths are attributed to Long QT Syndrome, but for some reason, this message is not being shared.  Parents are not being advised to get their hearts checked when their baby dies.  For so many, SIDS is the only explanation they’ll receive.

Whenever my Google alerts identify another SIDS death, I try to contact the coroner cited in the article.  Today, I spoke with someone at the Blaine County Coroner’s Office in Idaho.  A five month old child died last week.  I just want to make sure that they considered the heart like our coroner did.  I just want to make sure that the family gets all of the information. 

I’ve learned that I can’t make that assumption.

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The sudden death of several prominent young athletes has drawn attention to the problem of silent heart disease. Studies are under way to determine who is at risk.

The problem of undetected heart disease in young athletes came to prominence in 1990 with the death of Hank Gathers, 23, then an All-American basketball star at Loyola Marymount University. He collapsed on the court during a game with the University of California, Santa Barbara, and died shortly thereafter. He had been treated for an abnormal heartbeat, but after his death, a medical examiner found that he had suffered from cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart.

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It is a tragedy that young Akhir Frazier died this week.  It is a tragedy that a building that bears the name of Hank Gathers was host to such a tragedy.  How many lessons do we need to learn before we start taking steps to protect our childrens’ lives?

By TED SILARY
Philadelphia Daily News

WHILE COACH Dan Brinkley, of Prep Charter High, is positive Akhir “Geedy” Frazier would have played basketball at the Division I level, now those thoughts are secondary.

“I’m much more fortunate to have met him than to have coached him,” a sobbing Brinkley said yesterday. “This was one great kid. For all the people who knew him, this is hitting us like 9/11.”

Frazier, 16, a rising junior combo guard, died late Wednesday night at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 4 days after removing himself from a neighborhood league game at Hank Gathers Rec Center, 25th and Diamond, and collapsing into the arms of that team’s coach as he approached the sideline.

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He was playing basketball with some friends.  He collapsed in the midst of having fun.  He never regained consciousness.  With no brain function, his parents made the terrifying decision to stop life support.  

Sudden cardiac arrest kills thousands of children every year.  Many of them are engaged in athletic activity.  Most of them have no idea that they have a heart condition. 

We can change that.  Italy did.  They started providing ECG exams for all of their kids.  As a result, they reduced the incidents of sudden cardiac arrest by 89%. 

Has your kid received an ECG exam?  It costs less than $50.  I bet she’s had a hearing exam or eye exam.  Has your kid ever fainted?  That’s the primary warning sign of a condition that leads to sudden cardiac arrest. 

Please add this to the decisions that you make for your child – get their hearts checked.

The 16-year-old, named locally as Patrick Dinsmore, collapsed while taking part in a minor match at Greenpark Road in Rostrevor yesterday.

It is understood the St Colman’s College pupil, who was playing for St Peter’s GAA Club, Warrenpoint, had been on the field for just 15 minutes when tragedy struck.

On Friday evening, August 20, at approximately 10 p.m. the child suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at the Darke County Fair near the area of Gate 6. An EMS unit stationed on the grounds came to the aid of the child.

The child was rushed to Wayne Health Care across the street from the fairgrounds where he was later pronounced dead.

Darke County Coroner Dr. T. Kathman reports that preliminary findings suggest that the cause of death is natural. A final determination on cause and manner of death is pending further forensic testing which could take several weeks.

There is no evidence at this time to suggest that the child’s death is associated with his attendance at the Darke County Fair, according to Chief Dep. Mark Whittaker of the Darke County Sheriff’s Department.

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SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A Lake Superior State University student-athlete who was a Negaunee track and field standout as well as an exceptional high school football and basketball player, was found dead in his residence hall on Sunday, Aug. 22.

LSSU Public Safety reports that Dillon Menard, Negaunee, a member of the LSSU Track and Field team, appears to have died of natural causes. An autopsy is being conducted in Marquette. A sophomore, Menard would have been starting his second year in the engineering program.

“Our hearts go out to the members of Dillon’s family and his friends,” said LSSU President Tony McLain. “He was an exceptional student and athlete who was part of an LSSU track and field team that is very close-knit.”

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University officials said Milandu died of complications from an elevated heart rate.

Athletic Director Wheeler Brown said that Milandu was at a supervised open try-out. Brown said that Milandu was attended by emergency medical personnel and was transported to Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

Brown also acknowledged that no athletic trainer was present during the workout, a violation of university policy. He also said he did not know if Milandu had taken a required physical before the try-out and explained that university officials were looking to see if other policies were violated.

According to Bernard Flynt, another student-athlete trying out for the track team, Milandu pulled up a few feet short of the finish line on his fourth lap.

“He just said he was tired and he couldn’t go no more,” Flynt said. “We was trying to help him, but he wasn’t trying to stand up. He was just trying to just sit there.”

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According to a National Council of Youth Sports 2008 survey, over 40 million young athletes ages 6-18 participate in organized youth sport activities. Recognizing this trend of participation, and to reduce the risk of injury, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) offers a number of suggestions to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

“It is so important that young athletes are physically and mentally prepared for the start of the sports season, said Brian Robinson, ATC, chair of NATA’s secondary school committee. “Educating parents and school personnel about ways to help children avoid common sports-related injuries is a top priority. And, nothing is more frustrating to the athlete, his or her team and family, than for an avoidable injury to occur and sideline him or her from play.”

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This test measures the amount of oxygen that is being carried in a baby’s blood by shining a special light through the baby’s skin. It helps to find babies who do not have as much oxygen in their blood as they should, which is common among babies who have serious heart problems.

The test is not painful and only takes a few minutes. The pulse oximetry test is conducted at the hospital after a baby is 24 hours old and before the mother and baby go home. Participation in the screening is voluntary.

If a baby is thought to already have a heart problem they will not be eligible for the test. If a baby has the pulse oximetry test and has a lower reading than we would expect, the doctor or nurse practitioner caring for the baby may order additional tests or refer the infant to specialized physicians.

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