West Bloomfield High School Students Raise Awareness for Cardiac Health

In West Bloomfield, a high school student is making strides to bring attention to a serious issue affecting young people today: sudden cardiac arrest. Matilda Evardsson, inspired by tragic stories and medical advice, has launched the “WB Has Heart” program aimed at educating her peers and the community.

Matilda’s journey began when she visited her doctor for a pre-volleyball season physical. During the appointment, she learned about the alarming rise in sudden cardiac arrests among students. This news resonated deeply with her, especially in light of recent incidents involving young athletes. She recalled the incidents of Simon Mirkes, a 16-year-old from Farmington Hills who tragically collapsed during a trip to Alaska, and Bronny James, who faced cardiac issues earlier in 2023.

With the support of a scholarship from the West Bloomfield Youth Assistance program and funding from Corewell Beaumont through their Student Heart Check initiative, Matilda set out to make a difference. “This sparked my passion for understanding how communities can prevent student deaths from sudden cardiac arrest,” she shared on her website, wbhasaheart.com.

In recognition of World Restart a Heart Day on October 16, Matilda joined forces with her classmates Edvardsson, Sofia Zholob, and Amarina Kriko to train over 150 students and staff in hands-only CPR. “Matilda has taken an important idea and developed a really fantastic program,” remarked Blake Belsky, captain of the West Bloomfield fire department’s EMS division. “We are excited to partner with her in her education and prevention efforts.”

The WB Has Heart initiative encompasses various efforts aimed at making West Bloomfield High School a Michigan Heart Safe School. The school is already equipped with automated external defibrillator (AED) machines, a vital step toward this designation. Upcoming plans include:

• Providing free Student Heart Checks at the high school on February 1, 2025, in partnership with Corewell Health.
• Working toward the Michigan HEARTSafe School designation by being prepared for cardiac emergencies.
• Offering free CPR training.
• Fundraising through the sale of “WB Has Heart” merchandise.
• Hosting speakers to emphasize the importance of heart health and emergency preparedness.
• Organizing games and prizes in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day in 2025 to boost awareness about heart health.

“I thought it was an amazing opportunity to show as many people as possible the lifesaving intervention of CPR,” said Avery Wright, a firefighter paramedic with the West Bloomfield Fire Department. “CPR is the most crucial treatment, and the faster it can be administered, the better. Before 911 gets there is the gold standard.”

Wright expressed satisfaction with the engagement levels, stating, “I feel very confident they would be able to step in if something happened.”

Jennifer Shea, the manager of student heart screening at Corewell Health, echoed these sentiments. “We’ve never had student engagement at this level in the 17 years we’ve been doing this,” she noted. With about 1 in 100 students screened finding a condition that requires follow-up, the importance of these initiatives cannot be overstated. To date, Corewell Health has screened 21,000 students, referring 2,200 for follow-up care and identifying 232 with significant heart conditions they were unaware of.

Shea highlighted that heart screenings are often overlooked because they are not typically included in standard sports physicals and insurance coverage usually depends on family history or current symptoms. The upcoming screenings in February 2025 will involve 22 exam areas staffed by 12 cardiologists committed to assisting students.

Thanks to Matilda Evardsson’s vision and dedication, the WB Has Heart initiative is poised to save lives and foster greater awareness about cardiac health among students, empowering them to take action in emergencies.