On May 10, 2004 the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) launched the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Website, www.healthy-firefighter.org. This website will operate in conjunction with the NVFCs heart-attack prevention program aimed at improving the health and wellness of firefighters. The program was launched in January 2004 in Jacksonville, FL at Fire Rescue East. “We feel that this project will go a long way in preventing heart attacks in the fire service and increase the overall wellness and fitness of firefighters,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. In 2002, 100 firefighters died in the line-of-duty. Stress and overexertion, usually resulting in heart attacks, continues to be the leading cause of fatal injury, as it has been in almost all of the years since firefighter fatalities have been documented. More than 70% of the heart-related deaths were volunteers. Through a grant from FEMA, the NVFC and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have established a major national campaign to increase awareness of this serious health problem within the fire service. The program includes the NVFC Heart-Healthy Work Group and Medical Advisory Panel who have played key roles in developing the program. Key members of the Work Group include the American Heart Association, USFA, the American Dietetics Association and the National Heart, and the Lung and Blood Institute and other organizations that have an interest in promoting heart health within the fire service. “The leading cause of death for the nation’s firefighters is heart attacks,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “Each year, we realize an average of 100 firefighter fatalities. Through programs like this with the NVFC, we will reduce the unacceptable loss of these American heroes.” Since the launch in January 2004, the NVFC and the new NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program performed cholesterol testing on 1,600 people, which includes 1,315 individuals that were tested at FDIC in Indianapolis in April. The program makes its way next to Harrisburg, PA on May 21-23, 2004 for Fire Expo 2004. The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program will be located at booth S-6. We will be doing free cholesterol testing through L&T Fitness as well as handing out valuable information about how you can lower your cholesterol, eat more nutritious, become more physically active, and generally live healthier.