Metro bus drivers and staff are today showing their support for the National Stroke
Foundation’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check.
Metro’s Chief Executive Officer Heather Haselgrove said today Metro was pleased to
support the event as it dovetailed with its own programs to help improve the health and
fitness of employees.
“Metro is supporting the National Stroke Foundation’s “Australia’s Biggest Blood
Pressure Check” on Wednesday by promoting it on our buses, circulating messages via
our website and twitter and mentioning it on our regular morning traffic spot on ABC
morning radio,” Ms Haselgrove said.
The National Stroke Foundation will be providing simple, free and fast blood pressure
checks between 8:30am and 3:30pm tomorrow, Wednesday, April 2, in the Elizabeth
Street Mall.
“We’re helping to get the ball rolling by having our bus drivers and staff undergo blood
pressure checks at the Springfield Bus Depot today,” Ms Haselgrove said.
The National Stroke Foundation Tasmanian Executive Officer Connie Digolis said high
blood pressure was the highest and most modifiable risk factor for stroke.
”By checking blood pressure and completing a simple questionnaire pharmacists and
health professionals will be able to help identify people that might have high blood
pressure and may be at risk of stroke and related conditions,” Ms Digolis said.
Ms Haselgrove said any Metro employee found to be at risk would be referred to their
doctor for advice on how to lower their risk and to stay healthy.
“The Metro workforce is obviously in an occupation that is reasonable stressful and
sedentary because drivers are confined to their seats most of their shifts,” Ms
Haselgrove said.
She said that Metro took the health of its employees very seriously. In August 2012
Metro opened a new gym at its Springfield Depot as one of a number of initiatives to
help improve the general health of employees.
Ms Haselgrove said Metro also had a partnership with the Department of Health and
Human Services’ Get Healthy Service on ways to improve the health of employees.
In the past Metro has provided a number of activities including walking groups and health
assessments for blood pressure and cholesterol and offers quit program assistance for
smokers.
