A barber shop is more than just a place to get haircuts.
“People tell us everything,” said Duncanville barber Kirk Saunders. “So before the community consults a doctor, they consult a barber. That's part of my job and being more than just a barber.”
Sanders was one of the barbers who visited the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center for a training session for the “He's My Hero” program with Dallas Fire Rescue and the importance of monitoring blood pressure and the importance of blood pressure. I learned how to measure.
“I can speak from a black man's perspective,” Dallas Fire Rescue Lt. Chris Washington told the class. “I hate doctors, and many of us do!”
That's where the barber comes in.
“Because we touch so many people,” says barber James Thomas. “I tell people I touch everyone from the drug dealer on the street to the president of the United States. They all need a haircut.”
“You all have a gift for talking,” Washington said. “Talk to them!”
The aim is to install blood pressure monitors in barbershops and make it easier for barbers to talk about health issues.
“We never talk about health in barbershops. We might talk about sports and everything, but we don't talk about health,” Sanders said, adding that he plans to change that.
“First of all, because there's a lot of traffic. Second, it's in a black community and high blood pressure is very high in our community.”
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 55% of Black adults have high blood pressure.
“I think you should ask, 'Doctor or ma'am, while you're here today, would you like to take your blood pressure?'” Thomas said. “And hopefully most of them will say yes!”
The “He's My Hero” program is a collaboration between the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center and MAVSFIT, part of the NBA's health and wellness platform.
Mr. Sanders said, “Take your blood pressure.'' Peace! “
“I can’t wait to get started,” Thomas said.
