Are you ready for the school year?

September is here and with that comes the new school year. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to how and where kids are learning are rampant. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone!

One thing we want all our families with inherited arrhythmias (e.g. LQTS, BrS, CPVT, etc.) to know is that you are NOT at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 than anyone else.

However, as schools begin to open up nationwide, parents, guardians, and caregivers will have to make important decisions based on many factors. One of the biggest decisions, perhaps, is that many schools are offering parents and guardians a choice between in-person and virtual modes of learning.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation (SADS Foundation) both have wonderful tools to ease some of the tension you are probably feeling.

The SADS Foundation has started SADS Safe Schools week. Visit their website for tips for parents, information from the CDC, a Back-to-School checklist, and more. You can also visit the CDC website for a school decision-making tool for parents, caregivers, and guardians (PDF here), information on back to school planning, COVID-19 Parental Resources kit, and much more.

Have more questions? Every Friday, Dr. Ackerman is featured on the SADS Foundation's Facebook page where he goes live to answer YOUR questions! All you have to do is go to the SADS Foundation's Facebook page during the live video (typically at 1:20 PM CST) and type in your questions to get them answered by the experts! You can also view the previous 28 episodes on their Facebook page or the SADS Foundation's YouTube channel.

During last week's event, Dr. Ackerman answered many frequently asked questions regarding SADS conditions and going back to school! Check it out below.

Meet other people talking about genetic heart disorders and COVID-19 on Mayo Clinic Connect. Join the Heart Rhythm Conditions group or the COVID-19 group to join the conversation, share experiences, ask questions, and discover your support network.

For up-to-date information, please follow Dr. Ackerman and the Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic on Twitter by clicking the links below.