From 8AM to 12PM on September 12th, Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health gave free concussion and cardiac screenings to young athletes from New Jersey sports teams to help ensure the health and safety of kids on and off the court. 

Free EKG screenings were given at the medical center in Jersey City to the first 130 athletes between the ages of 6 and 18 to sign up. Concussion screenings were also available to the first 80 athletes to sign up and required that children be at least 12 years of age. 

The screenings were provided by a division of Jersey City Medical Center called the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes. The medical center in Jersey City specializes in the education, evaluation and assessment of sports injuries and sports-related cardiac and concussion problems. 

Bruno Molino, a trauma surgeon at Jersey City Medical Center, commented on these sports-related health hazards, saying, “Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart loses its normal rhythm and stops beating. Unless the person is resuscitated quickly, it is fatal. Since most young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest don't display any symptoms beforehand, and few have physical signs that are detected during a routine sports physical; an electrocardiogram (EKG) is key in identifying young athletes with high-risk heart disorders.”

Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health is the area’s only not-for-profit hospital and regional trauma center. To support initiatives like this one, proceeds from the upcoming T-Mobile Newport Liberty Half Marathon on September 20, 2015 will be donated to the hospital.

Join the cause by signing up to run by visiting: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/JerseyCity/NewportHalf

Thank you for all you do for New Jersey sports teams and more, Jersey City Medical Center!

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