Madison, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General
 By  GreggParker Published 
12:13 pm Thursday, December 8, 2011

Firefighters take weekly screenings at senior center

Madison firefighters serve selflessly every day but on Fridays they volunteer for some vital work.

For about 14 years, employees in the Madison Fire and Rescue Department have visited the Madison Senior Center to take blood pressure readings for the members. “They have faithfully done this every Friday, unless they are on call or at a training meeting,” activities coordinator Joy Edwards said.

Former center director Judy Meiers asked the fire chief if firefighters could help with this screening, Edwards said. Numerous firefighters on all three shifts have answered the request for all these years.

“One fireman will do BP checks, while another one writes down the information on a card that the senior keeps in his or her wallet,” she said. “Then, he also records it on a sheet on file at the desk.”

In addition, another firefighter weighs the center members. “Those figures are recorded, too,” Edwards said.

For several senior citizens, the blood pressure checks are the main reason that they visit the center on Fridays. About 25 members get the screenings each week.

“We really like for the firemen to come over,” Edwards said. “They are handsome young men and are very friendly to everyone.”

Center member Rosemary Brocato said the visits are an enormous help. “I’m 73, so I’m not as old as some of the people at the center. The checks are very important to the older members,” Brocato said.

Brocato takes blood pressure medicine. “I want to check my blood pressure so I can keep it from going up and down,” she said.

If a center member has an exceptionally high blood pressure reading, the firefighters contact the spouse or other relative. “It really helps for the firemen to do this for us,” Brocato said.

Like other members at Madison Senior Center, Brocato appreciates the firefighters’ visits. Each year around Christmas, center members present them with a basket of goodies and snacks.

Madison Senior Center’s address is 1282 Hughes Road. For more information, call 256-772-6242.

Also on The Madison Record
Rocket City Marching Invitational set for Saturday, Sept. 20 at stadium
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
MADISON – Bob Jones High School Bands, in collaboration with title sponsor KODA Technologies, will present the third annual Rocket City Marching Invit...
Mayor Paul Finley bids farewell, reflects on accomplishments at 2025 Madison Update
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - Madison Mayor Paul Finley will be leaving the office of mayor this Nov. after sitting out the Aug. 26 election. Finley addressed the busines...
District 6 seat to be decided Tuesday in runoff election
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - There is one final race to be decided from Madison’s municipal Aug. 26 election. The representative for District 6 on the Madison City Counc...
Heart of the Valley YMCA exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy, renews mission focus
A: Main, Business, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
HUNTSVILLE – On Sept. 8, Heart of the Valley YMCA announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This development marks a new chapter ...
MCDAB presents check to Parks and Recreation, chairperson steps down
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - After serving as the chairperson for the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board (MCDAB) for nine years, Janessa Crosswy is moving and steppi...
State lawmakers, local city leaders meet with Space Command leader to discuss transition
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By ALEX ANGLE Alabama Daily News 
September 17, 2025
WASHINGTON — Space Command is moving quickly to bring the headquarters to Huntsville through meetings with members of the state’s congressional delega...
Best-Selling Author Jen Hatmaker to share memoir on Oct. 21
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
MADISON – Jean Hatmaker, “New York Times” Best-Selling Author, speaker and podcaster, will share thoughts from her memoir, “Awake,” at Blue Apple Book...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *