Media Room
Medical Reserve Corps Teams Up with National Volunteer Fire Council on Heart-Healthy Firefighter Initiative
Washington, D.C., December 7, 2004 - The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) announces that the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is offering the support of its local volunteer chapters for the NVFC's Heart-Healthy Firefighter program. The goal of the Heart-Healthy Firefighter initiative is to reduce the incidence of on-duty firefighter deaths due to heart attack and other heart-related factors.According to Grace Middleton, spokesperson for the Medical Reserve Corps, among the ways that MRC units will be supporting the Heart-Healthy Firefighter initiative is in providing, overseeing or assisting in performing physical exams for firefighters, as well as educating fire department members on healthy lifestyles and the ways they can begin to make healthy changes.
Commenting on the MRC's involvement with the Heart-Healthy Firefighter initiative, NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg stated, "We're delighted to receive support from the Medical Reserve Corps. The MRC provides an invaluable service to local communities, whether it's in times of crisis or simply in meeting day-to-day medical needs. We fully expect them to play a vital role in our program, not only in health services, but also in educating firefighters about the risks of heart disease."
According to NVFC officers, inquiries and interest in participating in the program are very high. Organizations in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Michigan and Tennesse have already expressed interest in the program.
The NVFC's Heart-Healthy Firefighter program has established an aggressive goal of reducing heart-related on-duty firefighter deaths by 25% by the year 2008. Now in its second year, the program educates firefighters and the communities they serve about the risks of heart attacks and other heart-related dangers inherent in firefighting.
A Heart-Healthy Firefighter Kit developed by the NVFC has already provided thousands of firefighters with valuable information on fighting cholesterol and heart disease, as well as promoting better nutrition and overall physical fitness. The Heart-Healthy Firefighter Kit is available by visiting www.healthy-firefighter.org. The web site also offers other heart-healthy tools, including a medical history form that firefighters can print out and provide to their doctor.
Heather Schafer, NVFC executive director, reported that the Heart-Healthy Firefighter program has been well-received. "We've been quite successful in educating firefighters about cardiac-related health issues," she stated. "Not only have we put information into the hands of over 5,000 firefighters, we've also provided thousands of free cholesterol screenings at key fire service conferences. Of course, much work needs to be done at the local level, which is why we're so grateful for the Medical Reserve Corps' support. They will make it far easier to reach the many thousands of volunteer firefighters who can benefit from our heart-healthy program," Schafer noted.
The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps is to build teams of volunteer medical and public health professionals who lend their time and expertise at the local level. The all-volunteer units assist their communities during times of medical, environmental or terror emergencies. MRC volunteers also provide education and prevention services to improve the public health infrastructure of local communities and neighborhoods. Organized in 2002 under the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, the Medical Reserve Corps is an important component of the USA Freedom Corps, formed after September 11, 2001 to foster the spirit of volunteerism among all citizens of the United States.
The National Volunteer Fire Council is a not-for-profit membership organization representing the interests of volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. Organized in 1976, its membership includes state-level organizations that represent volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in 49 states, along with individual firefighters, fire departments and corporate members.
The NVFC is the volunteer fire service's representative in the national policy arena, keeping its members informed of current and forthcoming legislation. The NVFC also serves on the Board of Visitors of the National Fire Academy, the Congressional Fire Services Institute's National Advisory Committee, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Federal of World Volunteer Firefighters Association, as well as various sub-committees of the National Fire Protection Association.
For more information on resource materials available to Medical Reserve Corps units to support the National Volunteer Fire Council's Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, contact Maggie Wilson, Director of Health & Safety, at 1-888-ASK-NVFC or 202-887-5700, or via e-mail at maggie@nvfc.org.
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