Volunteer Fire Departments Needed to Test Online Wellness Program
June 16, 2015
Update 6/26/15: Department nominations are no longer being accepted for this project.
Scientists from University of Texas Health Sciences Center’s School of Public Health and the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at the National Development & Research Institutes are looking for volunteer or mostly volunteer departments to participate in the test of an online wellness program for volunteer firefighters. The project, funded by FEMA’s Research and Development grants and conducted in conjunction with the National Volunteer Fire Council, will study the usefulness and acceptability of the online wellness program with departments across the country.
For this study, the researchers are looking for departments that do not currently have an active wellness program but are interested in adopting a department-wide intervention. If selected, the project team will make two or three visits to your department to examine important health factors such as nutrition, exercise, and body composition in a sample of your firefighters. Participants will then have access to an online program that focuses on changing diet, increasing physical activity, and improving behavioral health. The program includes personal health coaching.
Departments will receive direction on program implementation, a summary of the project’s findings for your department, and access to a nationally known team of fire service researchers for collaboration and education. Importantly, data on individual firefighters will not be shared with anyone and will be considered confidential by the research team. There are no financial costs for participation in the study. The research team has a long and trusted relationship with the fire service and has worked with many departments across the nation.
Update: The researchers recevied an overwhelming response to this project and thank everyone who submitted a department nomination. No further nominations are being accepted at this time.
