RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, the team's official medical services provider, announced today they will host their second annual youth heart screening event at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Saturday, March 8. The event will be run in partnership with the Nick of Time Foundation, a local non-profit and the facilitator of some of the largest youth heart screening events in the Puget Sound region. The free screenings are open to anyone between the ages of 12-24 and are intended to identify undetected heart conditions, particularly among student athletes.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
- Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center – 12 Seahawks Way, Renton, Wash.
- Time: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- An appointment is required. Sign up here.
Screenings include a heart health survey and family history, blood pressure reading and physical exam, and an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), a noninvasive test that measures activity of the heart. An on-site echocardiogram is conducted in cases with a positive finding on history, physical exam, or EKG. Participants will also receive instruction on "hands-only" CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to assist with CPR.
"We're incredibly proud to partner with the Seattle Seahawks and the Nick of Time Foundation to bring this comprehensive heart screening event to our community," says Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President of CommonSpirit Health's Northwest Region. "This event provides crucial preventative care, allowing for early detection and treatment of potential heart conditions. The success of last year's event, which identified several cases needing follow-up, underscores the vital role these screenings play in keeping our kids healthy and active."
Early screening and detection saves lives. According to the Nick of Time Foundation, the leading cause of death in young athletes on the playing field is an undetected heart condition. The 2024 screening event resulted in more than 500 youth screened with 12 abnormal results, allowing these students to seek appropriate follow-up care.
More information about the screening event can be found at vmfh.org/Seahawks.
About the Nick of Time Foundation
Based in Mill Creek, WA, the vision of Nick of Time Foundation was created in memory of Nick Varrenti, a multi-sport athlete who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and died at age 16. Nick of Time programs work together to help protect our young people and communities by providing heart health awareness for young people, early detection of undiagnosed heart abnormalities, and emergency action planning for schools and communities that includes CPR/AED education. Learn more at www.nickoftimefoundation.org.
About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit, one of the nation's largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people. Learn more at www.vmfh.org
