Local barbershops plan health outreach

Three barbershops are working with Premier Health to increase awareness of chronic health conditions and promote healthy lifestyle choices within the African-American community.

This new program will offer free health screenings and health fairs at Serenity Salon, Deeez Cuttz Barbershop, and Man Up Barber Shop on select Saturdays through October 26.

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Health screenings include free blood pressure, height, and weight measurements, a body mass index calculation and fingerstick test for A1c. The health fairs will be larger events that also have total cholesterol, HDL, and blood glucose screenings. Events in September and October will have a limited number of free flu shots.

“People come to us once a week like they might go to church; sometimes they’re there two, three times a week, whether it’s for a haircut or just because they want to be in the barbershop,” Ray Lindsey, a barber at Serenity Shop in Trotwood, said in a statement. “With that being the case, I saw an opportunity to make the community better. It starts with us, then it trickles into our family, into our community. We should want to impact our community, and so with this initiative, I said, ‘Hey, let’s do it.’”

“The barbers with whom we are partnering are just as passionate and enthusiastic as we are about this program, which will communicate the importance of prevention, early detection, and disease self-management, as well as encourage healthy living,” Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health, said in a statement.

There have already been health events at the barbershops in March and April as part of the series of events.

Serenity Salon, 4628 Salem Ave., Trotwood, will have health screenings on July 13, a health fair on Sept. 14 and health screenings on Oct. 5. Deeez Cuttz Barbershop, 2576 Shiloh Springs, Trotwood, will have a July 6 health fair, Sept. 28 health screenings, and Oct. 19 health screenings. Man Up Barber Shop, 4444 Powell Rd, Huber Heights, will have July 20 health screenings, Sept. 21 health screenings and Oct. 26 health screenings.

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