Letter From the Chairman

Thank you for your interest in the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program. From 1984 to 1993 there were 1,115 firefighter fatalities. Of these, 503 were due to heart attacks. Since 1993, this trend has increased and nearly half of all firefighter deaths each year are attributed to heart attacks. The heart attack epidemic among our firefighter community of serious concern and deserves much attention. Why are so many firefighters suffering from heart attacks? What can be done to reverse this trend?

 

These are some of the questions the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program will help to answer. Through the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Resource Guide, the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter web site, and a myriad of other tools and resources, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) are working to lower the number of firefighter heart attack deaths.

 

The American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and the American Dietetics Association are among the prestigious organizations that serve on the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Work Group and have worked with the NVFC to develop and implement this program. Additionally advice from the NVFC Medical Advisory Panel has been instrumental in developing resources and providing information for you to use in your everyday life.

 

The content of this web site provides information on what causes heart disease, the risks of developing heart disease, and how to lessen your risks. You will find information on how to prevent heart disease, including lowering your cholesterol level, becoming more active, and eating a healthier diet.

 

We hope you enjoy this web site and that it benefits not only you but others in your department, family, and community.

 

Sincerely,

 

Philip C. Stittleburg

NVFC Chairman