The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) announced a first-of-itskind health initiative that is providing its 300,000 professional firefighters with tools to raise awareness of high blood pressure within their ranks and in the local communities that they serve. These firefighters–who are responsible for protecting 85 percent of the nation’s population–will help fight this chronic condition through health screenings and other educational activities.
这项运动是在5月17日左右在世界高血压日左右进行的停车，掉落，控制高血压计划的发起，正在与诺华药品公司合作进行。作为该计划的一部分，公共在线资源www.stopdropcontrol.com已经被开发出来。
美国大约有7400万成年人患有高血压，但其中约30％的人没有意识到自己的病情。高血压是一种无症状的慢性疾病，可能会对血管造成损害，并使心脏更加努力。不受控制的高血压是心血管疾病的主要危险因素，与心脏病发作，心力衰竭和中风的风险更高有关。
Fire fighters, who face extreme physical and psychological stresses in their work protecting their communities, have a high rate of on-duty deaths caused by heart disease (45 percent)–and high blood pressure may be one of the contributing factors. This first-hand experience makes IAFF and its members pivotal to the campaign and gives them a keen understanding of why raising awareness of high blood pressure is so important.
IAFF总裁Harold Schaitberger说：“专业消防员是其社区中最受信任和受人尊敬的领导人之一，并亲眼了解高血压的危险。”
“The IAFF is pleased to be working with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation–a global leader in hypertension research–on an important public health initiative that will arm us with resources–such as a comprehensive toolkit–to raise awareness about the potential dangers of high blood pressure among firefighters and the general public.”
IAFF affiliates and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation will also be participating in community health fairs in 20 cities that will provide the opportunity for firefighters to speak about the program and other health and safety issues. As a follow-on component to the Stop, Drop, Control program, and as part of its commitment to outcomes research, the IAFF and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation will be conducting outcome studies to evaluate the effects of the program on the health of fire fighters. Results of these studies may serve as a tool to help guide hypertension management practices among fire fighters across the country. The first two cities to participate in the studies will be Indianapolis and Phoenix.
“We anticipate that these studies may lead to improved outcomes and enhance firefighters’ understanding of how to manage high blood pressure in this unique group of patients, whose welfare is important to everyone,” said Joanne, R. Chang, MD PhD, VP & Head Evidenced Based Medicine, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. “This study reflects our commitment to improving the management of high blood pressure.”
The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents more than 295,000 full-time professional fir fighters and paramedics in the United States and Canada. The IAFF is the leading advocate in North America for the safety and training of fire fighters and paramedics. More information is available atwww.iaff.org.
