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May 30, 2006
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Welcome to the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter E-News. The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program was designed to healp firefighters become more heart-healthy and lower the incidence of heart attack related deaths in the fire service. We hope that you enjoy this newsletter and that it benefits not only you, but others in your fire department, family and community. This issue of the Heart-Healthy E-News is Sponsored by 
In this issue:
NVFC Promotes Heart-Healthy Lifestyle at FDIC Hundreds of firefighters and emergency services personnel visited the National Volunteer Fire Council booth at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, IN, April 27-29 to get health screenings, learn fitness techniques, eat heart-healthy food and meet NFL player Erron Kinney. The interactive booth promoted the NVFC's Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program. "We were very pleased with the number of firefighters that came to the booth and learned the value of a heart-healthy lifestyle," said Maggie Wilson, Director of Health and Safety for the NVFC. "This was our biggest booth to date, and we were able to include all of the important components of the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program - health screenings, nutrition and fitness." Attendees also had the opportunity to meet Heart-Healthy Firefighter spokesperson Erron Kinney, NFL player with the Tennessee Titans and a volunteer firefighter. Kinney, who volunteers with three departments and serves on the Tennessee State Fire Commission, autographed footballs and talked with attendees about firefighting, football and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The NVFC partnered with L&T Health and Fitness, an award-winning fitness management and health promotion company, to offer free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. Almost 800 firefighters participated in the screenings. A counselor discussed the results with each participant and answered any questions. Chef Kevin Harris of Food for Love, Inc. performed several cooking demonstrations over the three days and discussed how to prepare heart-healthy food. The demonstrations included gumbo, rice pilaf and red beans. Conference attendees sampled the dishes after each demonstration. The recipes are available on the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program website - www.healthy-firefighter.org Quick Fit Products, LLC rounded out the booth with fitness demonstrations. Quick Fit Products is a partnership between Richard Bradley, the creator of the Quick Fit program and author of Quick Fit: The Complete 15-Minute, No-Sweat Workout, and L&T Health and Fitness. Over half of all firefighter deaths are attributed to heart attack. The NVFC launched the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2004 to reduce the number of firefighter deaths from heart attack. This is accomplished by promoting a healthier lifestyle and by providing firefighters with fitness, nutrition, cholesterol and other pertinent information to assist them on the road to becoming heart-healthy. To learn more about the program, visit www.healthy-firefighter.org. For information on the NVFC, visit www.nvfc.org NVFC Partners With Novartis The National Volunteer Fire Council's (NVFC) Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program signed a partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in a proactive measure to educate firefighters about the risks of uncontrolled hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. As part of this new partnership, Novartis presented a $50,000 check to the NVFC program on April 7 during the NVFC's annual spring Board meeting in Arlington, Virginia. "Firefighters are at a particularly high risk for hypertension, and both the NVFC and Novartis are dedicated to educating firefighters about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent the serious effects of this disease," said Maggie Wilson, Director of Health and Safety at the NVFC. "If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Together, the NVFC and Novartis will work to teach firefighters both how to improve cardiovascular health and manage high blood pressure." Christine Cascio, Director of Product Public Relations for Novartis, and Molly Grodin, Senior Account Executive of the healthcare public relations company Chamberlain Communications Group, publicly launched the partnership with the check presentation to the NVFC. Cascio commended the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program and outlined the direction of what promises to be a very successful collaboration as the two organizations work together to achieve their common goal of promoting heart-health among firefighters. High blood pressure contributes to the deaths of almost 30 people every hour of every day. More than 65 million adult Americans, or one in three, have high blood pressure. However, nearly 70 percent of these do not have their blood pressure controlled to the recommended level of less than 140/90 mm Hg. For more information about high blood pressure and The BP Success Zone, visit www.getbpdown.com. For information about the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, visit www.healthy-firefighter.org. Firefighter Safety Stand Down Scheduled to Start June 21st The second Firefighter Safety Stand Down will be begin Wednesday, June 21, 2006, and continue until all shifts have been completed. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is joining the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers' Section and 17 other partners in urging fire departments to suspend all non-emergency activity and focus entirely on fire safety. The Stand Down calls attention to the number of preventable line-of-duty deaths and injuries among firefighters. Departments are encouraged to check all apparatus and equipment, discuss health and safety regulations, review fire ground safety issues and take stock of training and fitness goals. Last year, an estimated 10,000 fire departments participated in the event. "We must take dramatic steps to reduce the alarmingly high firefighter death and injury rates," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "While firefighter safety must be part of everyday life in the fire service, the Safety Stand Down raises awareness of the issue and calls international attention to the unacceptable number of firefighter line-of-duty deaths." The 2006 Stand Down will focus on emergency vehicle safety, including seatbelt usage and safe driving through intersections. "Sadly, 106 firefighters died in the line of duty last year. Many of the accidents occurred in department vehicles," said IAFC President Chief Bill Killen. "We want to focus on areas of safety where we can have the most impact." The NVFC has been a major advocate for firefighter safety and promotes heart attack prevention goals through its Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program. The campaign provides important fitness, nutrition and health information to firefighters in a proactive effort to reduce the number of firefighter deaths caused by heart attack and other heart-related conditions. "The National Volunteer Fire Council is proud to partner with the IAFC and other organizations to support the Firefighter Safety Stand Down," said Maggie Wilson, Director of Health and Safety at the NVFC. "Firefighter health and safety is very important to the NVFC, and we will continue to work towards reducing the number of firefighter deaths." For information on 2006 Stand Down, visit www.iafc.org/standdown.
Stand Down Sponsors:
Stand Down Partners (as of April 26):
The Stand Down Activities and Materials are Coordinated by: NVFC, Joe Montana and Novartis Team Up for Firefighter Health Football legend Joe Montana and spoke to firefighters and emergency medical personnel on May 10 about the importance of maintaining healthier blood pressure levels. The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Heart Healthy Firefighter Program and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation’s BP Success Zone program sponsored the event at the Hartford (CT) Fire Training Facility as part of a joint effort to educate firefighters about their increased risk of heart disease. About 100 firefighters, including many chiefs, gathered to hear Montana and James M. Rippe, MD discuss the dangers of uncontrolled hypertension, or high blood pressure. Montana spoke of his own battle with high blood pressure, which he was diagnosed with in 2002, and the dangers it can cause if left unchecked. He also shared his recipe for “Joe’s Overtime Oatmeal Cookies,” which were available for the audience to eat. After his speech and a question-and-answer session, Montana had his blood pressure checked on the Hartford Fire Rehabilitation Bus. The Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program recently teamed up with Novartis’ national education program BP Success Zone to help educate firefighters about their increased risk of heart disease. Four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Montana and cardiologist Dr. Rippe are spokespersons for the campaign. Learn more about the BP Success Zone program at www.getbpdown.com or call toll-free 877-GET-BP-DOWN. The Hartford event was one of a series of talks Montana and Dr. Rippe are giving across the country. Stay tuned to the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program Web site for information on upcoming appearances. Heart-Healthy Success Stories Have you made progress in meeting your heart-healthy goals? Tell us your success story. 
Courtesy of Yahoo Health Flipped Burger What grills like a burger, tastes meaty on a bun -- but has a fraction of the fat? Grill up broad, flat Portobello mushrooms, dress 'em up like burgers, and you'll enjoy a hearty sandwich that's far better for your heart than beef. Mushrooms have what the Japanese call umami, a meaty taste, and healthy cooks use that meatiness to advantage. And that meaty taste comes with a very impressive nutrition profile: No fat, no carbs and hardly any calories. Add sauteed cremini mushrooms to spaghetti sauce for depth of flavor and satisfying chewiness. Slice shiitakes for you next stir-fry. Boost “Good” Cholesterol Here's one of the best arguments for daily aerobic exercise. Medical trials suggest that a daily dose of walking, biking, jogging, or swimming helps reduce the risk of heart disease, especially if that increased activity helps you lose weight. Research shows such exercise is the best way to raise HDLs, the "good" cholesterol that helps carry harmful fats out of your system. Small Steps
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