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Barbershop hosts blood pressure checks with fresh cuts Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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IMAGES OF THE STORM. BARRY IS WEAKENING RIGHT NOW AS IT MOVES NORTH. A NEW COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IS BRINGING BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS TO BARBER SHOPS. KCCI’S TOMMIE CLARK VISITED ONE OF THOSE SHOPS TODAY TO SEE HOW THESE CHECKS COULD SAVE LIVES. >> INSIDE UNIVERSAL KUTZ, IT’S A BUSY SATURDAY, WITH THE BUZZING BACKDROP OF SHAPE-UPS IN PROGRESS. TODAY THOUGH, THERE’S A DIFFERENT SOUND PUMPING INSIDE -- PUMPING INSIDE. CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING MORE THAN A CLASSIC CUT, THEY AND THEIR BARBERS ARE GETTING A BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK TOO. >> IT’S DEFINITELY A GOOD THING TO KNOW. I KNOW I’M SLIGHTLY ELEVATED SO I CAN GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT BEFORE. >> WE WANTED TO BRING THAT CARE TO THE ACTUAL SHOP SO IT FEELS A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WHERE THEY CAN GET THOSE READINGS AND GET THOSE NUMBERS AND IT KIND OF TAKES THAT NERVOUSNESS OUT OF IT. >> AND BARBER SHOP OWNER, CRAI HUNT, IS HAPPY TO HOST IT, AFTER HE HAD HIS OWN SCARE. >> I WAS IN HERE CUTTING HAIR, EARLY MORNING. I HAD A STROKE. >> THIS LEFT-HANDED BARBER LOST MOVEMENT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS BODY. >> I WAS VERY SCARED BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE A BARBER YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT OK IF I DON’T CUT, IF I DON’T HAVE MY LIMBS, I DON’T HAVE MOVEMENT, WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME? HOW AM I GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY? HOW AM I GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS? WHAT’S LIFE GONNA BE LIKE. >> THREE YEARS LATER, HE’S STILL CUTTING HAIR, WHILE ALSO STARTING A CONVERSATION >> WHEN I HAVE TO ONLY WHEN SOMETHING’S WRONG, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING? BUT SOMETIMES THAT’S TOO LATE. >> NOW WHEN CRAIG PLACES HIS RAZOR IN THE BARBER TRAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE’S NOT ALONE IN KNOWING HIS NUMBERS. >> IT’S LIKE A SILENT KILLER , LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW THAT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE’S HIGH. IT COULD JUST BE HIGH AND YOU’RE LIVING LIFE WITH IT HIGH AND THEN ONE DAY YOU’RE LIKE ME JUST IN A HOSPITAL BE