More than 90 staff at Leonardo in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters, know their numbers after taking part in the blood pressure awareness campaign yesterday – 17th September 2024.
‘Take the Pressure Off’, a joint initiative between Public Health at Somerset Council and NHS Somerset aims to raise awareness about high blood pressure and encourage early detection through free blood pressure checks within communities across Somerset.
High blood pressure is a serious health concern: in the UK it affects one in four adults, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Worryingly, one in three people in Somerset with high blood pressure are unaware they have it.
Leonardo in Yeovil, with the well-being of their staff a priority, agreed to take part in the campaign by offering on-site blood pressure checks for employees as part of a wider Wellbeing Roadshow including representatives from Mind in Somerset, The Wellbeing Hub and the NHS AAA Screening Service (Abdominal Aortic Aneurism Screening).
Professor Trudi Grant, Executive Director of Public and Population Health, joint appointment between Somerset Council and NHS Somerset said:
“Early detection is crucial in managing high blood pressure. A simple blood pressure check, which takes around a minute, can potentially save lives. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this free service which is offered across local pharmacies or by borrowing a monitor from any library in Somerset.”
Councillor Graham Oakes, Executive Member for Public Health, Climate Change and Environment at Somerset Council said:
“As one of the largest companies in Somerset, who employ thousands of staff, I am thrilled that Leonardo in Yeovil has chosen to be part of this initiative and support their staff in this way. High blood pressure can have no symptoms; hence it’s known as the ‘Silent Killer’, and significantly increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke – ‘knowing your numbers’ is key to help people live longer, healthier lives.”
Alison Wilcox, Wellbeing Manager at Leonardo said:
“The health and well-being of our staff are paramount to the smooth operation of our business. Partnering with the ‘Take the Pressure Off’ campaign allows us to provide our employees with the opportunity to check their blood pressure and take proactive steps to manage their health.”
The initiative kicked off in March this year and has so far tested almost 2,500 people’s blood pressure in Somerset through attending workplaces, shopping centres and community events.
Find out more about the ‘Take the Pressure Off’ campaign via the link.
