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NVFC Health and Safety Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) new Health and Safety Committee met for the first time during the NVFC Fall Board Meeting, which was held in Grand Rapids, MI, from September 24-27. The Committee was created at the NVFC Spring Board meeting in April and furthers the NVFC’s focus on protecting first responders.

The NVFC has always been active in promoting and implementing initiatives to keep first responders healthy and safe. This includes launching the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 to proactively combat the leading cause of line-of-duty firefighter deaths – heart attack. The mission of the Health and Safety Committee is to provide insight on issues and policies relating to health and safety of volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel. The Committee will assist by:

  • Serving as reviewers for the many health and safety documents the NVFC is asked to review from organizations such as the CDC, NIOSH, NFPA, IAFC, ICC, NFFF and many others.
  • Provide input into the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program.
  • Provide input into new and existing safety issues.
  • Serve as a sounding board and develop ideas for new programs.
  • Attend various health and safety conferences that the NVFC is invited to.
  • Work closely with other fire service organizations to collaborate on issues pertaining to health and safety.
 
The Committee is chaired by Kenn Fontenot, NVFC’s Louisiana Director. Kevin Quinn, Alternate Director from Rhode Island, serves as Vice Chair, and North Carolina Director Jeff Cash serves as the Committee’s liaison to the NVFC Executive Committee.
 
To more effectively address the health and safety issues impacting the volunteer fire service, the Committee established the “Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities.” Stay tuned to the NVFC web site to learn more about these priorities.
 
“Health and safety of volunteer firefighters is a priority of the NVFC,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “The Health and Safety Committee will be instrumental in ensuring the important issues surrounding health and safety are given their due attention and that our nation’s volunteer firefighters are protected from preventable hazards.”

NVFC Press Contacts

Kimberly Ettinger

Director of Communications

202-887-5700 ext. 19

kettinger@nvfc.org

David Finger

Director of Government Relations

202-887-5700 ext. 12

dfinger@nvfc.org