About the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program

America's firefighters and emergency services personnel save lives and property as first responders to man-made and natural disasters, but these responders face a great, although often ignored, risk. Every year, more than half of all firefighter deaths are attributed to heart attacks, which is the leading cause of firefighter fatalities. The NVFC has designed the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program to promote fitness, nutrition, and health awareness within America's fire and emergency services. It is the nation's only heart attack prevention program targeted at all firefighters and EMS personnel, both volunteer and career.

The NVFC launched the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 with the release of the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Kit and free cholesterol screenings at fire and emergency service trade shows. The program has since expanded to include the Fired Up for Fitness Challenge, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Resource Guide, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Cookbook, the E-news monthly electronic newsletter, the Put It Out smoking cession campaign, Health and Wellness Advocate Workshops, behavioral health workshops, webinars, and much more. The Heart-Healthy Firefighter booth travels to fire and emergency service trade shows across the country to offer free health screenings and distribute tools and resources to help first responders get and stay healthy.