Flashfire

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the TECGEN EXTREME® brand team are teaming up to support the firefighting community. Now you can join the cause.

Purchase a new fire-resistant (FR) T-shirt from the TECGEN XTREME® brand team and $5 of your purchase will be donated to help the NVFC promote firefighter safety.

NVFC is previewing the FR shirts at Fire Expo 2010 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, May 21-23. Stop by the NVFC booth for a chance to win FR shirts for your entire department, or, order online today by clicking here.

To try TECGEN XTREME® Protective Apparel FREE for 30 days, visit http://www.tecgenxtreme.com/nvfc.

Thank you for helping us support NVFC – enjoy Fire Expo 2010!

You probably know heart attacks are the leading cause of line of duty deaths (LODDs) among firefighters. Yet many volunteer fire departments lack the resources to create cardiac screening and physical fitness programs.

Good news: Resources are available.

Here’s a list references to help you implement medical screening and fitness programs at your fire department. Kudos to NWCG (PDF) for compiling this list:

Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services (PDF)
Produced by USFA, FEMA & NVFC

Suggestions for implementing a health and wellness program in the volunteer fire and emergency services. Organized to help VFD’s develop a program from the ground up.

Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program
A program of the NVFC

Dedicated to saving America’s firefighters and EMS personnel from their leading cause of death: heart disease.

Wellness-Fitness Task Force
A program of the IAFF & IAFC

Dedicated to developing a holistic, positive rehabilitating and educational approach to wellness and fitness programs in the fire service. The Task Force has three programs

• The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative
• The Candidate Physical Ability Test
• The Fire Service Peer Fitness Trainer Certification

Fit to Survive Program
Sponsored by the IAFF

Provides expert advice and practical information on staying fit and healthy, along with recipes and nutrition tips.

Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service, 2008 (PDF)
Published by USFA and NVFC

Addresses emerging health and safety issues in the volunteer fire service and identifies best practices. Discusses cardiovascular disease, nutrition, physical activity, and stress management.

Firefighter Wellness-Fitness Website
A website of the USFA

Information on wellness and fitness initiatives that the U.S. Fire Administration has participated in.

FireFit
Sponsored by the Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team

Created to provide the interagency wildland fire community a comprehensive, easy-to-follow fitness program.

Fitness and Work Capacity, 2009 Edition
Published by the NWCG

Designed to help field workers and wildland firefighters achieve fitness, health and work capacity.

NFPA 1583: Standard on Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members, 2008

Outlines minimum requirements for a health-related fitness program for fire department members.

America’s firefighters and emergency services personnel face great health and safety risks, even as they save lives and property every day.

The NVFC is conducting a survey to identify new or changing health and safety issues facing the fire and emergency services. If you are a first responder, please take a moment to participate in the survey by clicking here.

The results of the survey will help NVFC examine the programs available to help reduce fatalities among our nation’s first responders. The findings will also be used to identify what future efforts are needed to secure firefighter and first responder health and safety.

The survey will remain open until May 1. It takes only 10-15 minutes to complete and is completely confidential. Please consider helping.