Attention Wildcat Parents:
Middle and High School Parents and Guardians,
As your newly elected Superintendent, I am deeply committed to enhancing the safety of our students at all times and in all endeavors. I am writing to solicit your cooperation in a crucial initiative aimed at protecting our students from cardiac arrest, which is the leading cause of death on school campuses and among student athletes. Recently, we were deeply saddened by the untimely passing of a local student athlete from Port St. Joe who collapsed during a football game. This tragic event prompted me to consider what steps we could take to prevent such incidents and better prepare for them.
We discovered an opportunity to collaborate with the Who We Play For organization to provide FREE Electrocardiogram (EKG) screenings for every Middle and High School student, regardless of athletic participation. These EKG screenings are not mandated by the Florida High School Athletic Association for sports participation and are typically not included in standard physical examinations. Participation in this screening process cannot be obligatory, and parents must register their students and give consent. As a parent of an 8th grader, I recently completed the registration process, which took less than three minutes. Personally, the peace of mind knowing my son was screened for any abnormalities is invaluable.
I strongly encourage you to review the information below and register your students for these screenings. Additionally, please share this information with friends and family members to ensure they also register their students, you could be the difference in your loved one’s life. According to data, 1 in 300 students may have a detectable condition, which means that with our approximately 2,500 middle and high school students, we could potentially identify and address conditions in up to 8 families.
You may watch a brief video here: https://youtu.be/WF8SlXw-Dxc
Or visit their site for more information: https://www.whoweplayfor.org/
Here are the dates of screenings and registration links for each school:
January 8th - Wakulla Middle School: http://WWPF.as.me/WakullaMS
January 9th - Wakulla High School: http://WWPF.as.me/WakullaHS
January 10th - Riversprings Middle School: http://WWPF.as.me/RiverspringsMS
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Rick Myhre
Superintendent
Wakulla County Schools