Local Elected Officials & Community Members Receive FREE Resting EKG Screenings

Feb. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- ORANGE CITY – In celebration of American Heart Month, Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler has offered the public free resting EKG screenings throughout the month.

Hundreds of community members have registered for this free screening, and on Thursday, February 23, local elected officials – including Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk, Deltona City Commissioner Fred Lowry, Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka, and City of DeBary Commissioner Nick Koval – joined the community at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial. Their participation was twofold: not only are they leading by example, being proactive in their health, but these officials are also helping create awareness about heart disease.

The information obtained from an electrocardiogram (EKG) can be used to discover different types of heart disease and coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for more deaths in the United States than any other cause. Even though the number of deaths due to heart disease has dropped for both women and men over the past 40 years, it remains the number one killer of women… killing more than any type of cancer, including breast cancer.

In addition to today’s screening, Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler has already provided free EKG screenings at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach on February 16. There are two more screening dates available: February 29 at Florida Hospital DeLand and March 8 at Florida Hospital Flagler in Palm Coast. Residents that would like to participate can schedule an appointment by calling toll-free (866) 328-6417.

Photo Caption:
Florida Hospital Fish Memorial Cardiopulmonary Services Manager Craig Broeker and Daytona State College nursing student Justin Thomas perform a free EKG on Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial on February 23. The Orange City Mayor participated in this program, not only to be proactive in his own health, but to also help create awareness about heart disease. “I’m 64 years old and I’ve never had one before,” said Orange City Mayor Laputka said. “I would encourage everyone within the community to get their EKG done too.”

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Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler is a nonprofit with a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ. With five hospitals, Florida Hospital is the largest hospital system in Volusia and Flagler counties, caring for nearly 650,000 patients every year.