Know Your Numbers

Improving your health starts with knowing your health.

You probably know your height and weight numbers off the top of your head, right? What about your blood pressure numbers?

High blood pressure and hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in the United States and affects about 1/3 of the adult population nationwide and right here in Hawaiʻi. It is referred to as the silent killer as most people do not experience any symptoms or signs and half of those with high blood pressure are not aware of it. Learn more about high blood pressure from the American Heart Association.

Community First has two initiatives to raise awareness around high blood pressure.

Know Your Numbers

Community First held its first Know Your Numbers blood pressure awareness campaign in February 2020. Partners in the inaugural campaign included retired nurses, recruits from the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, and students from the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as well as Hawaiʻi Community College’s nursing and allied health programs.

Watch this video to help you take accurate blood pressure readings.

Know Your Number Educators

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo School of Nursing students collaborate with Community First to bring the Blood Pressure Educators Project to Hawaiʻi Island elementary schools. This annual project fulfills graduation requirements for senior nursing students, as they teach sixth graders how to use a blood pressure monitor to take blood pressure readings of adult family members and friends.

From 2014 to 2020, 16 schools have participated involving 26 UHH SON students and 791 sixth graders. As of 2020, the project has logged 4,299 blood pressure screenings. Contact us to get your school involved in the Blood Pressure Educators project.