Dallas Fire-Rescue wins award for wellness-fitness program

By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Staff

Photo Jamie Thompson Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Eddie Burns steps forward to accept the award.

Related Article: Fire Service Award for Excellence Related Resource: FRI 2009 Special Coverage Related content sponsored by:

DALLAS — Dallas Fire-Rescue scooped the 2009 Award for Excellence for its wellness-fitness program at Fire-Rescue International Friday.

The department created a comprehensive program to increase the awareness of its personnel about their health and wellbeing through a series of medical evaluations and physical fitness assessments.

Since it began the mandatory program, the department has documented at least 10 cases in which there were findings of blocked cardiac arteries that required surgical intervention. Additionally, at least 10 firefighters have had a confirmed diagnosis of a variety of cancers.

Co-sponsored by the IAFC and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies, the award "recognizes the very best in innovation and achievement in managing resources to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and other emergencies."

The six other finalists nominated for the 2009 award were:
• City of Bellevue, Wash., Fire Department — Multi-Language Emergency Preparedness Videos
• DeKalb County, Ga., Fire Rescue Department — Merger of Fire and EMS Department
• Fairfax County, Va., Fire and Rescue Department — Training Matrix
• King of Prussia, Pa., Volunteer Fire Company — Fire Prevention & Life Safety Education Program
• Office of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal — Louisiana Helps
• Memphis, Tenn., Fire Department — EMS Quality Improvement Model