Offering free physicals, EKG screenings and donating LifeVac anti-choking devices to schools in Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties
As part of its mission to keep Southwest Florida residents and visitors safe, Lee Health is providing free physicals and electrocardiograms (EKG) to school-age children and teenagers as well as anti-choking devices to schools in Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties to help prevent choking emergencies.
Golisano Children’s Hospital donated 110 LifeVac devices to Lee County schools, 12 to Hendry County schools and four to Glades County schools.
The LifeVac anti-choking devices were donated last year by Golisano Children’s Hospital to support Lee Health’s mission of ensuring a safe and healthy community. LifeVac is designed with a patented valve to prevent any air from exiting through the mask. This patented designed valve prevents air from pushing food or objects downward. This creates a one-way suction to remove the lodged food or object.
Golisano Children’s Hospital also offers free EKG testing to middle and high school-aged athletes. The free EKGs are available without an appointment. More information can be found by visiting https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/pediatric-cardiology/youth-heart-screening.
An EKG records the electrical signal from the heart to check for different heart conditions, listens to the rhythm of the heartbeat, the size of the chambers of the heart and the amount of blood going to the heart muscle itself. It helps identify any potential problem that warrants a follow-up with a cardiac specialist.
A back to school/sports physical protects your child, classmates and teammates from avoidable injuries.
There will be a free back to school/sports physical night on a walk-in basis on Wednesday, July 24 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested in attending must check-in at the security desk at Lee Memorial Hospital’s medical office building entrance and proceed to the seventh floor. Lee Memorial Hospital’s Medical Office Building is located at 2780 Cleveland Ave., #709, Fort Myers.
School-age children and teenagers can also get a free sports and school physical on Saturday, July 27 from 8 a.m. to noon at LPG Bass Road, 16271 Bass Road in Fort Myers. On Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., physicals will also be available at Lee Health University Highlands, Suite 201, at 19511 Highland Oaks Dr. in Estero. No appointments are necessary for either day.
“Ensuring that children and teenagers get a school physical and EKG each year helps keep them safe and gives parents peace of mind that their child or teenager is healthy and there won’t be any surprises when it comes to their health and wellbeing. That’s also why we wanted to make sure local schools had access to LifeVac devices,” said vice president and chief physician executive of Golisano Children’s Hospital Emad Salman. “They’re easy to use and will save lives. Lee Health is passionate about doing all it can to keep the Southwest Florida community safe, especially when it comes to the younger population.”
Lee Health’s new mobile health unit in Lehigh Acres is offering sports and back to school physicals on both an appointment and walk-in basis. The mobile unit is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 55 Homestead Road S. in Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres.
Parents can also make an appointment for a physical at their primary care provider’s office. The health system allots more openings for physicals in the weeks before school starts. Please check with your insurance provider to see if this is covered.
Lee Health also works with national organizations like Who We Play For to provide free pediatric EKG screenings for children and teenagers at various community events throughout the year.
If your child is presenting any of the below symptoms of a heart problem, consult your child's primary care physician or pediatric cardiologist as soon as possible:
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Chest Pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Arrhythmia
For more information, please visit www.leehealth.org.