The National Volunteer Fire Council’s Heart-Healthy Firefighter booth provided blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose level screening to almost 600 fire and emergency services personnel and their families at the recently concluded Fire-Rescue International conference in Dallas. The NVFC partnered with L&T Health and Fitness, a fitness management and health-promotion company, to provide the free health screenings.

“In the four years that the Heart-Healthy booth has been going to trade shows, we have screened over 12,000 emergency services personnel and their families,” said Maggie Wilson, NVFC’s director of health and safety. “These screenings really make a difference. One firefighter at FRI told us this program saved his life. He had no idea his blood pressure was dangerously high until he was screened at the Heart-Healthy booth at a trade show last year. As a result of the screening he was able to get to his doctor before any complications arose. Now thanks to a combination of medication and a healthier lifestyle, he is successfully managing his blood pressure level.”

In addition to the health screenings, hundreds of attendees stopped by the booth to learn healthy cooking techniques and recipes during a series of cooking demonstrations performed by Chef Kevin Harris of Food For Love Inc. Harris shared his recipes for several dishes and invited the audience to sample the foods after each demonstration.

Heart attack is the leading cause of firefighter deaths. As part of its mission to reduce the number of firefighter and EMS personnel deaths from heart attack, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program brings its booth to emergency services trade shows and conferences across the country. Other initiatives of the program include the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Resource Guide, the Fired Up for Fitness Challenge and the Heart-Healthy Firefighter E-News. A Heart-Healthy Firefighter cookbook is scheduled for release later this year.

For more information about the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, visit the program’s Web site.