Volunteer Fire Service Health, Fitness and Wellness

The Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire Service provides information on how volunteer fire departments can enhance compliance with appropriate National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter Health and Safety Standards such as NFPA Standard 1583 - Health Related Fitness Programs For Fire Fighters, as well as addressing fitness and exercise (aerobic, flexibility, strength training, etc.); diet; smoking cessation; and other areas that will have a positive impact on the volunteer fire service community.

The guide was published jointly by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). A key goal of this partnership was to mitigate the leading cause of on-duty deaths in the volunteer fire service - stress-related cardiac deaths - which historically have accounted for 50 percent of firefighter fatalities.

Related Content

• Emergent Health and Safety Issues of the Volunteer Fire Service
• Safety and Health Considerations for the Design of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Stations
• Fire and Emergency Medical Services Ergonomics - A Guide for Understanding and Implementing An Ergonomics Program in Your Department

Links of Interest

• Addressing the Epidemic of Obesity in the United States Fire Service (PDF, 981 Kb)
• HealthierUS.gov
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Life Safety Initiatives
• National Volunteer Fire Council
• International Association of Fire Chiefs