Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program

America’s firefighters and emergency medical personnel save lives and property as first responders to emergencies of all kind, but these responders face a great, although often ignored, risk. Heart attack is consistently the leading cause of firefighter on-duty deaths each year.

The NVFC launched the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 to combat this alarming trend through education, awareness, and resources. The Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program promotes fitness, nutrition, and health awareness for all members of the fire and emergency services, both volunteer and career. Resources are designed to help individuals take control of their health as well as help departments implement a health and wellness program.

It is critical to know your health and do what you can to minimize your risks so you can be there for those who depend on you – your family, your department, and your community. By staying heart strong, you will maximize your abilities as a first responder and be ready for the next call.

Guides and Tools

Heart-Healthy Firefighter Resource Guide While firefighting is meaningful and rewarding work, it comes with some risks. This guide provides information, resources, and practical strategies to manage the health risks, reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease, and support your overall health so you can continue to do the important work you love.
Securing Sponsors for Department Health and Wellness Programs Securing funding and sponsors for a department health and wellness program may seem like a challenge, but with creativity and the support of local organizations, you can make it a reality. This toolkit is designed to help you find the resources to secure community support and get your program started.
Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments Initiative This initiative provides a toolkit, training, and resources to help fire and emergency service department leaders support health and wellness among their members and create a successful, engaged, and high-performing department.

Training

The NVFC offers on-demand courses and webinars on a variety of health and safety topics. These include the following:

• Creating a Health and Fitness Program in Your Department: A Two-Part Course
• Fit for Duty, Fit for Life: Firefighter Physicals and the Volunteer Fire Service
• Roundtable Talk: The Importance of Firefighter Physicals
• Building a Healthy and High-Performing Fire Department
• Volunteer Fire Service Culture: Essential Strategies for Success
• Obesity in the Fire Service

Find more health and wellness training in the NVFC Virtual Classroom here. All courses are free to NVFC members. Not a member? Join for $24 here.

Functional Fitness Videos

View videos on YouTube here.

Motivational Videos

Posters

Use these posters to motivate your crew and promote best practices for supporting heart health.

11×17 poster

16×20 poster

16×20 poster

Smoking Cessation

Smoking and tobacco use impact heart health. Find resources to help first responders quit smoking and stay quit here.

Additional Resources

Find more resources to support responder heart health, fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle choices here.