2nd Annual National Firefighter Health Week is August 18-22 |
| Saturday, 09 August 2008 |
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Every day, you protect others. You handle situations and emergencies where you have to give your all. You face enough risks without adding heart disease and related health concerns to the list. It’s time to protect yourself so that you can protect those who depend on you: your family, your department, and your community. August 18-22 is your opportunity to begin or re-energize a healthy lifestyle. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), through its groundbreaking Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, launched National Firefighter Health Week in August 2007 to create awareness about the health challenges that face you as a first responder. Now in its second year, National Firefighter Health Week is a week-long initiative to educate the fire and emergency services community and the public about heart-health as well as a variety of other health and wellness issues. Each year, more firefighters die in the line of duty from heart attacks than any other cause. Many more are diagnosed with life-changing or life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung cancer, or depression. Only you can prevent yourself from becoming a statistic. Each day during National Firefighter Health Week is dedicated to a different health issue of particular concern to the fire and emergency services. The National Firefighter Health Week Resource Center features resources, daily activity suggestions, and other tools for each of the focus topics. The topics for the 2008 National Firefighter Health Week are:
In addition, the Summer 2008 issue of The Pulse newsletter features a spotlight on each of the 5 focus areas, including recipes, fitness tips, daily activity ideas, and additional resources. The Pulse also features a pull-out motivational poster to display at the station to motivate your entire department to be healthy every day of the year. Find resources and information to help you adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle at www.healthy-firefighter.org. _____________________________________ |