Firefighter Health Promotion Continues in Exeter & Dashwood

Gateway CERH Screening Event at the Exeter Firehall

On July 2nd and July 17th, 2025, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) visited the South Huron firehalls of Dashwood and Exeter to promote health in the local fire department. With the addition of these two locations, Gateway CERH has screened over 120 firefighters at seven firehalls.

This firefighter health promotion project, known as the Benefitting Rural Area Volunteer Emergency Firefighters (BRAVE-F) was a project started in 2023 in response to the sudden cardiac death of a Bayfield Firefighter. The project is intended to provide free medical screenings to volunteer firefighters across Huron-Perth as well as equipping them with knowledge about cardiovascular health so they have more control over their well-being. 

Volunteer Nurse Practitioner, Stephanie Greenfield screening a firefighter at a firehall

Each screening night begins with a brief presentation on the increased cardiovascular health risks faced by firefighters, followed by tips on how to manage these risks through regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle. Throughout the evening, firefighters have several health indicators measured, including height, waist circumference, blood sugar, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and weight. They also complete a general background survey and a PTSD screening to help build a more complete picture of their overall health. 

All of this data is being collected and analyzed to better understand the health of volunteer firefighters in Huron-Perth. In the future, this information can help shape stronger health policies and protections for our first responders. 

Sage Milne with firefighters and Firechief from a South Huron firehall

Thank you to Jeremy Becker (Fire Chief) and Micheal Herbert (Deputy Fire Chief) for allowing us to screen 35 firefighters from the Exeter and Dashwood Firehalls. Thank you to the volunteer nurses for taking their time to complete blood sugar and blood pressure and thank you to the firefighters for showing up for themselves and all other volunteer firefighters. 

This project is funded through the generous support of 100 People who Care: Huron County, Municipality of Bluewater, the Township of ACW, Goderich Legion Branch 109, Seaforth Legion Branch 156, and Ai Financial.