PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — When walking through Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School in Petersburg, it’s clear that the students and instructors put their hearts into hair dressing — and heart health.
The American Heart Association selected the cosmetology school as the first in the central Virginia region to be part of a program promoting accessible heart health. It now has two blood pressure monitoring units and instructors are trained to take blood pressure readings on site.
“Petersburg is an inner city community and a lot of people don’t have immediate access to healthcare,” said Rashaad Seaborne of Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School. “So, we want to make sure that they can be able to get their health screenings, whether or not they have a primary care physician or not.”
Instructor Shequilla Brooks has a passion for her craft, as well as educating and helping others. She told 8News that African American and Hispanic communities are disproportionately impacted by high blood pressure.