Blood Pressure Checks

According to the American Heart Association, about 75 million people – nearly 1 in 3 - in the US age 20 and older have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is easily detected and controllable, yet many do not have the means to screen their blood pressure. By providing free blood pressure checks, you can help community members understand and maintain their health.

Steps

• Recruit three to four medical volunteers. Ask if doctors, nurses, EMTs, CNAs or medical students in your church can volunteer to help. If none is available, check with local hospitals, nursing homes, colleges, pharmacies, fire rescue departments or health care facilities. Check if you will need to purchase or borrow BP cuffs (sphygmomanometer) or stethoscopes.
• Decide when and how often you will provide blood pressure checks. Some churches provide screenings one Sunday a month following services. If this is a one-time event, try planning it on a weekend afternoon.
• Decide where you will hold the screenings. You can hold the screening in your church or at a busy location in town.
• Advertise your services. Ask permission to post flyers on local businesses. It may be helpful to have your flyers printed in Spanish as well.
• On the day of screening, set up tables and chairs. Put up table signs or banners and have health information brochures ready to hand out. It is also helpful to have translators at the screening.

Tips

• Other health screenings you may consider providing are diabetes, asthma, body mass index, and breast cancer.