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Fla. FD breaks ground on health and wellness center for firefighters

The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department will now have a permanent location to provide annual physicals, cardiac stress tests and cancer-related screenings

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The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department broke ground on its new Health & Wellness Center, creating a permanent home for the department’s firefighter screenings and testing program launched in 2018 to address cancer and cardiac risks.

Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department/Facebook

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department broke ground on Feb. 23 on a new Health and Wellness Center aimed at expanding medical support for firefighters.

Officials said the facility will provide services including annual physicals, pulmonary testing, cardiac stress tests and ultrasound screenings, Action News JAX reported.

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The department has offered the services since 2018, but has not had a permanent facility until now.

“The JFRD Health and Wellness Center is about taking care of our own so that we can take care of others,” Director and Fire Chief Percy Golden II said “That’s not only our slogan, it’s our commitment.”

Firefighters routinely face exposure to toxic smoke and elevated risks for cancer and cardiac issues, and the new center is intended to help monitor and protect their health on the job.

What health and wellness resources does your department provide to help firefighters manage cancer risks, cardiac health and other job-related exposures?



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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.