Heart Healthy Firefighter Program
Too many firefighters are dying from heart attacks, and the National Volunteer Fire Council isn't going to take it any more. In an effort to reduce the number of firefighter deaths from heart attack, the NVFC has initiated the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program. Its mission is to promote a healthier lifestyle by providing firefighters with fitness, nutrition, cholesterol and other pertinent information to assist them in becoming heart-healthy.
NVFC’s website (www.healthy-firefighter.org) offers a plethora of articles, ranging from statistics on firefighter deaths and NIOSH heart attack fatality reports to tips on nutrition, physical fitness and heart-healthy tools. One article announces that the NVFC performed cholesterol screening on more than 1,000 firefighters at last August’s Fire Rescue International conference in New Orleans. Since the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program was launched in January 2004, cholesterol testing has been performed free of charge on more than 4,000 people, with original funding from an Assistance to Firefighters grant. In addition to screening, NVFC provides information about how to lower cholesterol, eat more nutritious food, become more physically active and live a healthier lifestyle. Under Phase Two of the program, which has recently been approved for funding, the NVFC plans to perform blood pressure and body composition screenings at major trade shows and will place even more emphasis on physical fitness in the fire service.
While you're on NVFC’s web page, check your healthy heart I.Q., with a list of true or false questions, such as: 1. A stroke is often the first symptom of high blood pressure, and a heart attack is often the first symptom of high blood cholesterol (True); 2. The most effective dietary way to lower the level of your blood cholesterol is to eat foods low in cholesterol (False); and many more. A section on nutrition suggests how to use the Food Guide Pyramid following the ABCs of nutrition: Aim for fitness, Build a healthy base and Choose sensibly. By following these guidelines, says NVFC, you can promote your health and reduce your risk from heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, stroke and osteoporosis, which are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
If you think this doesn’t concern you, consider this: According to a study by the U.S. Fire Administration, 44% of all firefighter deaths from 1990–2000 were from heart attacks. The same study shows that many of these firefighters had pre-existing conditions that contributed to the heart attack. Of these, arteriosclerosis was the most prominent, followed by previous heart attack and hypertension. Another factor, says the NVFC, is that many departments don’t require firefighters to stay physically active or in good physical shape. Let’s face it, even firefighters aren’t always fighting fires—particularly the 800,000 volunteers, many of whom have other jobs that are less physically demanding.
Log on now to see what NVFC has to offer. Better yet, adopt a Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in your own service and start getting in shape today.
—MN
