The NVFC launched the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 as a proactive campaign to reduce the number of firefighter deaths from heart attack through proper nutrition, fitness and health education. Heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of firefighter deaths. As part of the NVFS campaign, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter booth travels to trade shows and conferences nationwide to increase awareness among firefighters and emergency services personnel about the importance of heart-health. The Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program was promoted at both Firehouse Expo in Baltimore and at the South Carolina Firefighters Association's Annual Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the month of July. Here are some of the highlights:

Firehouse Expo - Baltimore The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) offered free health screenings and cooking demonstrations at its Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program booth at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, Maryland. Firefighters and emergency services personnel received free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings at the Heart-Healthy Firefighter booth. The NVFC teamed up with L&T Health and Fitness, an award-winning fitness management and health-promotion company, to provide the free screenings. Chef Kevin Harris of Food For Love, Inc., performed several cooking demonstrations over the course of conference demonstrate how to make heart-healthy meals. The demonstrations included Harris' recipes for Never Too Much Garlic Pasta, Pollo Pesto and Smokey Corn & Crab Chowder. For heart-healthy recipes and further information, please visit the Heart-Healthy Firefighter website at www.healthy-firefighter.org

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina As part of its national effort to raise awareness about high blood pressure and the increased risk of heart disease among firefighters, NVFC and football legend Joe Montana traveled to Myrtle Beach for the South Carolina Firefighters Association's annual conference. Montana is the spokesperson for Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation's BP Success Zone, which has partnered with the NVFC's Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program to educate firefighters about the importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

Firefighters are at a particularly high risk of hypertension due to the stress their hearts are under while fighting fires. Heart attack, which can result from high blood pressure, is the leading cause of firefighter deaths. Over 1,000 firefighters attended a panel discussion featuring Montana, cardiologist James Rippe and Myrtle Beach Assistant Fire Chief Dan Cimini. Rippe, who is also a spokesperson for the BP Success Zone, spoke about the "three-alarm call" in the battle against hypertension - a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity and getting on the right medicine. Several hundred firefighters had their blood pressure checked at the Heart-Healthy Firefighter booth. The screenings were provided free of charge by CareForce and North Greenville Fitness. Participants were entered into a raffle to win a 49'ers helmet autographed by Montana.

The Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program recently teamed up with Novartis' national education program BP Success Zone to help educate firefighters about their increased risk of heart disease. Learn more about the BP Success Zone program at www.getbpdown.com or call toll-free 877-GET-BP-DOWN.