Firefighter Health Promotion Continues in Exeter & Dashwood
- Sage Milne
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 21
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.
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.
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.
About Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health
Founded in 2008 in the community of Seaforth, ON, Gateway CERH is a not-for-profit rural health research organization run by a community-based volunteer board of directors. Gateway CERH's main mission is to better the health and quality of life of rural residents through research, education and communication. Learn more on the Gateway CERH website at: https://www.gatewayruralhealth.ca/ and follow on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube
It’s inspiring to see such meaningful initiatives supporting the health and well-being of volunteer firefighters. Programs like this truly make a difference in preventing long-term health issues and raising awareness about cardiovascular risks. Since firefighters spend long hours on their feet during training and emergencies, custom orthotics can also play a key role in improving comfort, reducing fatigue, and supporting overall physical health. Excellent work by Gateway CERH and all the partners involved!
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This is such an inspiring initiative — it’s great to see organizations like Gateway CERH supporting firefighter health and wellness. Firefighters face intense physical demands, so preventive care and regular health screenings are vital. Alongside cardiovascular monitoring, even small measures like using custom orthotics can help reduce fatigue and joint stress during long shifts. Excellent work promoting holistic health for our first responders
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This is a crucial and commendable health initiative by Gateway CERH to support our volunteer firefighters. Given the extreme physical demands of their duty and heavy equipment use, musculoskeletal support is vital for their longevity. Investing in custom made orthotics can help ensure optimal biomechanics and reduce the risk of foot and joint injuries. Thank you to all