Online resource to encourage better firefighter health The NVFC has created an online resource center for firefighters to use during National Firefighter Health Week
National Firefighter Health Week is August 17-21, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has released an online resource center to help you plan your activities and focus on your health. This year's theme: "It takes a healthy heart, mind, and body to do what you do - Keep It Strong," encourages first responders to learn their risk factors, commit to making healthy lifestyle changes, and keep the momentum going all year long.
When your department responds to a call, everyone needs to be at their best to get the job done safely. The NVFC, through its groundbreaking Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, sponsors National Firefighter Health Week each year to provide an opportunity for departments and personnel to focus on their total health so that they can keep it strong all year long for those who depend on them: their family, department, and community.
Each day during National Firefighter Health Week is dedicated to a different aspect of an overall healthy lifestyle, from knowing your risk factors, to implementing healthy behaviors, to keeping the momentum going.
The 2009 daily focus topics are:
- Monday, August 17: Know Your Risks
- Tuesday, August 18: Keep Your Head in the Game
- Wednesday, August 19: Matters of the Heart
- Thursday, August 20: Focus on Fitness and Nutrition
- Friday, August 21: Keep it Strong All Year Long - Adopt the Program
The National Firefighter Health Week Resource Center contains resources and tools to help you plan your Health Week events. This includes daily activity suggestions, a motivational poster, links to tools and resources, and much more to help everyone in your department adopt and maintain heart-healthy lifestyles. There are also resources for promoting your local Health Week activities in the community, including a customizable press release, web banners, and even a sponsorship toolkit for getting local businesses to support your health and wellness activities.
It takes a healthy heart, mind, and body to do what you do - keep it strong.