Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, is the number one cause of death in America. The emergency services are not immune to this tragic statistic. Heart disease remains the leading cause of firefighter fatalities, with over half of all firefighter deaths each year attributed to heart attacks. The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program is an awareness campaign designed to help reverse this devastating trend.

In recognition of the nation's ongoing fight against heart disease, Congress issued a joint resolution in 1963 requesting that the President issue a proclamation each year designating February as American Heart Month. The purpose of this annual proclamation is to renew the nation's commitment to fighting this deadly disease and increase public awareness of how to prevent cardiovascular illnesses.