Wisconsin Health and Wellness Advocate Workshop a Great Success

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program hosted a successful Health and Wellness Advocate Workshop at the Wisconsin State Firefighters’ Association Convention in Stevens Point, WI, on March 26-27. Personnel from departments across the state, including NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg and other members of the LaFarge Fire Department, attended the session to learn how to implement and maintain a successful health and wellness program within their department.

The free workshop is designed to train firefighters and emergency services personnel to become advocates for health and wellness within their departments, encouraging and motivating their fellow first responders to adopt heart-healthy behaviors. The instructors first teach attendees the basics of kinesiology and biomechancis, motor learning and control, nutrition and healthy eating, and weight management. They then show attendees how to build a program for their departments, including the basics for establishing goals, strategies, and program components. The session ends with a hands-on demonstration of safe, basic strength exercises and drills that they could implement within their departments.

The Health and Wellness Advocate Workshop is coming to five additional state shows in 2010. View the Workshop schedule on the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program web site to find a location near you. Register online, by contacting your state association, or by emailing Lillian Ricardo, Health and Safety Project Coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .