Blood Pressure Kits Now Available for Check Out at 5 Birmingham Public Library Locations
Birmingham, Ala. - The Birmingham Public Library offers far more than free access to the Internet/public computer usage, and a place to get passports, check out books and DVDs. Now thanks to a partnership with the American Heart Association's "Libraries with Heart" program, patrons can potentially check out a life-saving service. Patrons will have the ability to keep track of their blood pressure by checking out blood pressure kits at five BPL locations across the city.
The blood pressure kits - along with American Heart Association educational materials - are available for checkout at the following libraries:
According to the Alabama Department of Health, high blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms until serious issues arise.
The state health department says in 2021, over 42 percent of Alabamians reported having high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in Alabama.
Kim Baldwin is Vice President of Health Strategies at the Birmingham American Heart Association. She works with community partners in Birmingham and surrounding areas to improve the health and overall well-being of our community.
BPL is proud to be in partnership with the American Heart Association's Libraries with with this special Heart Loaner Blood Pressure Monitor Program.
Karyn Davis-West, Deputy Director of the Birmingham Public Library, states that "our library is proud to be in partnership with the American Heart Association's Libraries With Heart Loaner Blood Pressure Monitor Program. Due to this program, Birmingham patrons will be able to check out a blood pressure kit and use it in the privacy of their home for two weeks."
The blood pressure kit available for checkout from BPL includes:
• A blood pressure cuff and monitor
• Easy-to-read instructions on how to use the cuff
• Educational material about high blood pressure and local resources available.
Do you know:
• What does having high blood pressure mean?
• How high blood pressure is diagnosed?
• What is low blood pressure?
• Common high blood pressure myths?
Those and other questions are answered on the website above and in the various literature held within the kits.
Checking out the kits will allow you to monitor your blood pressure at home.
Learn more by clicking below https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home
A few important things to know to check out BPL's blood pressure kits:
• You must be a Birmingham resident to check out the blood pressure kits.
• There are a limited number of kits available. Patrons are encouraged to place holds/reserves on the kits.
• The blood pressure kits can be checked out for 2 weeks.
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