Thursday, October 1, 2026
With the aim of leading healthier lives and possibly heading off medical problems, nearly 200 young people from Seaford and neighboring communities received comprehensive heart screenings at Seaford Middle School earlier this month through Heart Screen New York, a partnership among the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation, the Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation and the school district.
Despite frigid weather, families turned out in large numbers to receive free cardiac screenings on Feb. 7. Participants ages 12 to 24 moved through a number of screening stations set up in the school gym. After filling out medical history forms, they were measured for height and weight and underwent blood pressure checks.
Medical professionals then administered electrocardiograms, or EKGs, which record the heart’s electrical activity, followed by heart sound analysis. District Superintendent Adele Pecora described the day as a powerful example of the district’s community spirit at the Board of Education meeting three days later.
“Saturday was an example of the Viking effect in action,” Pecora said, referring to the district’s theme of emphasizing how small acts can have big impacts. “We still tested 198 students, and we identified two students that needed further testing, which is really the purpose of that.”
When concerns arose, cardiologists administered echocardiograms to create images of heart structure and function. Participants also learned cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to use automated external defibrillators before receiving copies of their screening results to share with their own doctors.
The program, organized by Heart Screen New York, relies on volunteer cardiologists, nurses, medical students and CPR instructors. More than 140 volunteers took part in the six-hour event, alongside Seaford administrators and staff members who donated their Saturday to assist families and manage logistics. The participating foundations have screened thousands of students and promoted heart health awareness.
The Dominic A. Murray 21 Foundation was founded in 2010 in honor of Murray, who suffered sudden cardiac arrest and died in 2009, and is run by his mother, Founder and President Melinda Murray-Nyack.
Karen Acompora, whose foundation honors her son, Louis, said that enthusiastic participation in such events reflects growing awareness of heart safety. Louis Acompora died in 2000, at age 14, after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a lacrosse game, his first for Northport High School.
“The strong community response reflects a growing awareness of the importance of proactive heart health screenings for young people,” Acompora said.
Sudden cardiac arrest in youth often occurs without warning, she noted, but can be prevented through screenings and access to lifesaving equipment. “Sudden cardiac arrest in young people is a silent threat, but it is not unbeatable,” Acompora said. “With awareness, proper screening and access to AEDs, lives can and will be saved.”
This was the second time the middle school hosted the screenings, though it hasn’t done so in about 15 years. Bringing the program back required months of planning and coordination, beginning with outreach from the Seaford Wellness Council, a volunteer-run organization of teachers, parents, business owners and civic leaders that promotes positive change through community programs and events.
“One of our members was the one that initiated the invitation to the school district,” Council President Laura Metzdorff-Rivera said. “After the council thought it was a good idea, she asked if they would consider coming to the Seaford school district,” she added, referring to Heart Screen New York and the two foundations.
Because the foundations can visit only a few schools annually, she explained, communities must request participation well in advance. “The organization only goes to, like, two or three schools a year, and schools need to petition to have them come,” Metzdorff-Rivera explained. “So we were really grateful.”
The Wellness Council supported the event’s volunteers by bringing sandwiches, salads and a lunch spread from Seaford Harbor Deli. “The Wellness Council did an incredible lunch for everybody,” Pecora said.
The families that took part, Metzdorff-Rivera said, appreciated both the convenience and the potential benefits of the screenings. Beyond the medical services, the event showcased Seaford’s sense of community, she added.
“Everybody thought that the staff and the volunteers were very friendly, and it was just really positive energy all around,” Metzdorff-Rivera said. “It really showed the values of our community coming together and doing something good and helping out.”
Seaford High sophomore Brock Conway, a member of the wrestling team, came with other squad members for a screening. Conway, a three-sport athlete, said he appreciated the opportunity. “It was well-organized. and I also learned CPR,” he said. “This is really great, and I’m glad I was able to come and get screened.”
The majority of the people screened were Seaford middle and high school students, according to Kevin Witt, the district’s director of physical education, health and athletics.
“This was a great opportunity to get the youngsters in our community a thorough heart examination,” Witt said. “This goes beyond a routine checkup.”
