BP4Kids School Screening Initiative
Congratulations to NPBPAF President, Celeste Goodwin, on being named as one of the "100 Moms Changing the World". She also won first place in the education category in a national competition held by parenting website Babble.com. Her award comes for the work in developing the BP4KIDS School Screening Initiative, a school based screening program to ensure children receive annual blood pressure screens. The award brings a $5,000 donation to the NPBPAF to continue our work in educating parents on the importance of having routine blood pressure screens.
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BP4Kids School Screening Initiative
"Because Every Child's Health is Important"
2011 will mark the kick-off of our BP4Kids School Screening Initiative. This is a comprehensive screening program aimed at school aged children. Louisiana will serve as a model state which will allow the NPBPAF to carry the program into the remaining 49 states. Screenings will begin with grades PK-3.
Blood pressure screenings at school will be conducted in the same manner as traditional hearing and vision screenings. This is a vital measure that school districts must take to ensure the safety and health of their students. If a child is suffering with undiagnosed hypertension they are at much greater risk for suffering strokes, heart attacks, dizziness, and headaches, among other conditions. These are very real consequences for children as young as three years old. This can pose a serious risk to children while at school. If a child can be properly diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, this can greatly improve their performance at school.
Often times, school nurses are overloaded with day to day duties to keep their students healthy. The NPBPAF will work with school professionals and nurses to coordinate screening days. In situations where a school does not have a nurse on staff, we will be able to provide trained medical professionals to help in conduting the screenings in an effective and efficient manner.
If you are a school nurse, administrator, or professional and would like more information on how to get your school involved in our BP4Kids School Screening Initiative, please contact us at info@bloodpressure4kids.org.
This effort would not be possible without the help and support of our business leaders and community. If it were your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend, wouldn't you want to know?
Would you like to help support the BP4Kids School Screening Initiative?
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