Warsaw Community Public Library is now offering a way for visitors to check their blood pressure in private for free at the library. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Public Library.

By Dana McAfee
Event Coordinator
Warsaw Community Public Library

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Public Library is now offering a new health-focused service in partnership with Live Well Kosciusko and the American Heart Association. To mark National High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, the library is launching Libraries with Heart, a program that allows people to check their blood pressure while visiting the library.

This easy, safe and confidential service provides access to a self-use blood pressure cuff that can be temporarily checked out upstairs at the Adult Services Desk. Many libraries across Indiana are beginning to offer similar programs as a convenient way to support public health.

According to the American Heart Association, “blood pressure is a critical indicator of heart health, and knowing your numbers is key. Nearly half of the American population over age 20 has high blood pressure, and many don’t even know it.” At the library, we want to be part of raising awareness and promoting prevention.

Here’s how it works: ask for the cuff at the Adult Services Desk, sign it out with your name and the time, and return it within 10 minutes. You’ll be directed to a quiet location where you can take your reading. The kit includes instructions, a blood pressure chart and a page for you to record your results privately. Instructions are also available in Spanish. You will not be asked to share your reading or provide any personal information.

The cuff kit will remain available at the library on an ongoing basis, with no appointment required and no charge for use. As long as the library is open, anyone is welcome to stop in and check their blood pressure.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute offers fact sheets, videos, and articles about managing blood pressure and maintaining heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, self-measured blood pressure monitoring, combined with regular medical checkups, can help individuals manage hypertension. While high blood pressure often shows no symptoms, it is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

Warsaw Community Public Library is proud to offer this tool as part of our commitment to community well-being.