South East Technological University has launched a new screening pilot to help prevent Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in young people.
In partnership with the Dylan Quirke Foundation, the initiative offers free cardiac screening to over 130 student athletes across its campuses.
SADS can strike without warning, even in healthy individuals, but early screening can detect underlying conditions.
Donal McNally SETU Sports Director says the programme is a vital step in protecting students. “We’ve targeted our sports scholarship recipients, you know, so they’re a kind of cohort that are very active and I suppose testing their bodies to the max. I know when we talk about the Dylan Quirk Foundation, they’re doing huge work in terms of just creating an awareness out there for everybody and I suppose the fact that we’re able to pilot this with our scholarship athletes, a lot of them are, you know, are ambassadors and can be champions for this type of, you know, support.”
David Denieffe, Chief Operations Officer at SETU, said, “SETU places student health and wellbeing at the centre of this initiative. We look forward to working alongside our partners at the Dillon Quirke Foundation to coordinate screening, and we thank them for their invaluable contribution and commitment.”
Dan Quirke, Founder, Dillon Quirke Foundation, said “The Dillon Quirke Foundation was established to ensure no family has to endure the heartbreak of losing a young person to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. Our partnership with SETU is exactly the kind of proactive, meaningful action that will save lives. By providing cardiac screening to sports scholars, we are giving young athletes the best possible chance to pursue their passions safely. We are proud to stand alongside SETU in making athlete welfare a priority and hope this initiative inspires similar action across higher education in Ireland.”
