National Volunteer Fire Council's National Firefighter Health Week

Add Feedback

Share |

The National Volunteer Fire Council's Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program is the only national program dedicated to saving firefighters and EMS personnel from heart disease, which causes 48% of firefighter fatalities each year making it the leading cause of first responder death. As part of this initiative, each the NVFC hosts the National Firefighter Health Week, which focuses on a wide variety of first responder health issues ranging from heart disease to mental wellness, and gives individuals and fire departments the tools and resources they need to promote firefighter health year round.

This year the National Firefighter Health Week is being held from August 17th to August 21st, and the theme is "It takes a healthy, heart, mind and body to do what you do-Keep It Strong." The national initiative encourages firefighters to learn about their risk factors, commit to making healthy lifestyle changes and keep the momentum strong throughout the year beyond National Firefighter Health Week.

Each day of the week focuses on a different topic related to firefighter health. They include:

Monday, August 17th – Know Your Risks

Tuesday, August 18th – Keep Your Head in the Game

Wednesday, August 19th - Matters of the Heart

Thursday, August 20th – Focus on Fitness and Nutrition

Friday, August 21st – Keep it Strong All Year Long

The National Volunteer Fire Council is encouraging all fire departments across the United States, paid, volunteer and combination, to participate in this program. The non-profit organization is providing literature and digital resources to any department that would like to get involved, both during National Firefighter Health Week and throughout the year. The NVFC Heart-Heathly Firefighter Program provides fire and EMS departments with the resources they need to develop and enhance their fitness and nutrition programs all year long. More information on the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program and the National Firefighter Health Week can be found at www.healthy-firefighter.org.

Lillian Ricardo, the NVFC's Health and Safety Coordinator, explains, "On the main website there is a comprehensive resource center discussing Health Week and there are also separate pages and information on every focus day that encompasses tools and resources that are available to departments and individual firefighters. It gives suggestions on things that they can do to focus on that topic."

Join FDNNTV.com during National Firefighter Health Week. Each day between August 17th and August 21st we will broadcast a new video giving you information on firefighter health issues.