A barbershop is greater than only a place for a haircut.
“Folks inform us all the things,” Duncanville barber Kirk Sanders mentioned. “So the neighborhood will discuss to the barber earlier than they discuss to the physician. That is a part of my job; to be greater than only a barber.”
Sanders was among the many barbers who got here to the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Heart to attend a “He is My Hero” coaching session with Dallas Hearth-Rescue, be taught the significance of monitoring blood stress, and the right way to take blood stress readings.
“I can converse from a black man’s perspective,” Dallas Hearth Rescue Lt. Chris Washington informed the category. “I hate the physician and plenty of us do!”
Right here comes the position of barbers.
“As a result of we contact lots of people,” barber James Thomas mentioned. “I like to inform people who we contact everybody, from the drug vendor on the road to the president of the US. All of them want haircuts.”
“You all have the reward of gab,” Washington mentioned. “Simply discuss to them!”
The thought is to get blood stress screens in barber outlets and make barbers snug speaking about well being.
“We by no means discuss well being within the barbershop. We might discuss sports activities and all the things, however we do not discuss well being,” Sanders mentioned, saying he intends to alter that.
“As a result of initially, now we have visitors. And secondly, it is within the black neighborhood, and hypertension could be very excessive in our neighborhood.”
In line with the American Coronary heart Affiliation, about 55% of black adults have hypertension.
“I feel we must always ask them: ‘Sir or ma’am, whilst you’re right here right now, would you prefer to have your blood stress taken?'” Thomas mentioned. “And we hope most of them say sure!”
“He is My Hero” is a collaboration between the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Heart and MAVSFIT, a part of the NBA’s well being and wellness platform.
“Get your blood stress checked,” Sanders mentioned. “Good day!”
“I am unable to wait to get began,” Thomas mentioned.