Aldrich Embarked on a New Kind of Challenge - A Blood Pressure Challenge
To Strengthen the Health of Our Construction Community
Did you know 1 in 25 construction workers have cardiovascular disease, and that high blood pressure is the leading cause? High blood pressure can lead to devastating health consequences. That’s why we’ve joined together with the American Heart Association - Washington (AHA) to do something about it – raise awareness with a one-month-long blood pressure challenge. Have you taken your blood pressure lately?
Encouraged by Heart Hats with Heart leaders, Aldrich joined forces with AHA to hold a company-wide blood pressure challenge in April. This challenge is part of AHA Hard Hats with Heart campaign which is specifically focused on improving the health in the A/E/C industry. The program has reached nearly 15,000 individuals in the first three years. #hardhatswithheart
Blood Pressure Education Reaches Hundreds Across Aldrich Jobsites + Office
Our objective was to raise awareness with everyone working on our projects (no matter the company or job description) on how making simple lifestyle changes can improve overall heart health. Because of our efforts, 80% of 155 participants made at least one positive lifestyle modification like getting more exercise, taking 15 minutes every day to relax/decompress, eating more veggies, and cutting out sugary foods. By the end of the four-week challenge, 60 people reported reducing their blood pressure from the first week.
The goal of the Blood Pressure Challenge is to create awareness and save lives – and we did that! We received positive feedback from many of our subcontractor partners who participated in the program. Holmberg Mechanical brought a beautiful basket of heart healthy snacks to our office with a thank you note. One of their longtime employees took their blood pressure onsite, found out it was too high, and sought medical attention. And they weren’t the only one. During the challenge, eight participants made a doctor’s appointment after learning their blood pressure numbers were high. When a participant makes a doctor’s appointment as a result of learning their numbers, the AHA considers it a lifesaving win!
Blood Pressure Challenge Logistics
We launched over the first week in April with in-person presentations from AHA’s Marisa McCormack and volunteer Erin Coons at our Bothell office and three of our largest jobsites with smaller projects joining in virtually through Teams. At every jobsite, superintendents set up blood pressure-taking stations with posters, blood pressure cuffs, how-to and why infographics, and personal log sheets. All trades and subcontractors were invited to join in, and after each kick-off there was a lot of engagement from craftworkers asking questions and lining up to take their own blood pressure.
By scanning a QR code, AHA kept record of participation and tracked positive lifestyle changes through a quick survey without seeking actual blood pressure numbers. In exchange, participants received weekly tips and tricks on how to lower blood pressure and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Everyone who took the survey qualified for a custom tee shirt and entered AHA’s weekly cash drawing. The more you took the survey, the more chances you had to win. Congratulations to Ann Warner Smith who took her blood pressure and the survey every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for all four weeks and was the overall cash prize winner.
It takes A+ Team!
Special thanks to the team at AHA led by Julia Martin, Senior Development Director for their direction and support. AHA guided us every step of the way in planning and provided us with all the tools and metrics necessary for a successful challenge.
We couldn’t have pulled any of this off without the efforts of our field leadership and the A+ Team who coordinated everything from communications, to assembling blood pressure table kits, to delivery of said kits, to arranging lunch orders, to customizing tee shirts, and so much more. Thank you to Ann Warner-Smith, Lara Taber, Dave Gray, John Schuh, Matt Perhatch, and John Beaston.