What We're Accomplishing

In the first phase of the Heart-Healthy program in 2004, NVFC performed cholesterol screenings on over 4,000 individuals nationwide. Additionally the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter website was launched. Over 5,000 individuals received the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Kit which provided valuable information on becoming heart-healthy.

 

Phase two of the program began in late 2004. Fireman's Fund Insurance became a sponsor. NVFC used these funds along with funding from DHS to attend four national fire service trade shows. At these shows we provided free cholesterol, blood pressure and body composition screenings.

 

Additionally in January 2005, the Fired Up For Fitness Challenge was launched. The Challenge asked firefighters to log their daily physical activity. At certain milestones participants were rewarded with t-shirts and a certificate. As of December 2005, the Challenge had nearly 3,000 participants. Also in 2005, the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Resource Guide was created. This comprehensive guide has targeted the three cornerstones of a heart-healthy lifestyle: health, physical fitness and nutrition. 

 

In August 2006, NVFC presented the first Fired Up For Fitness Award to Mike Bitney from Spooner, Wisconsin. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) was awarded a $1-million Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for phase four of its Heart-Healthy Program. The grant is administered through the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The NVFC will be traveling around the country in 2006 and 2007 with a Heart-Fair offering free health screenings, cooking demonstrations and fitness demonstrations.

 

Additionally, a new spokesperson for the program has been named: Erron Kinney, a pro-football player with the Tennessee Titans and a volunteer firefighter, who signed on as the spokesperson in September 2005. Erron has traveled around the country with NVFC to promote the program and a heart-healthy lifestyle.

In all phases of the program, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Work Group assisted with its development and implementation.  The current members of the Work Group are:

American Heart Association
American Dietetics Association
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Medical Reserve Corps
National Fire Protection Association
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
United States Fire Administration

From the NVFC 2005 Annual Report