SAINTS MEDICAL CENTER PARTNERS WITH GREATER LOWELL
POLICE/FIRE/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO HOST
INAUGURAL FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTH FAIR
Lowell, MA, January 14, 2008: Addressing a vital need for local first responders, Saints Medical Center is taking the lead in providing valuable health screenings and preventive health education to the community’s police, fire and emergency medical services.
Saints Medical Center is strengthening its relationship with these organizations and expanding upon its annual First Responders Night to launch a new wellness program targeted to the area’s first responders. The inaugural First Responders Health Fair is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 2008, 8 am to 4 pm at Saints Medical Center. The event is a first-of-its-kind in the region and will offer free, confidential health screenings and information to help keep the men and women of our local police, fire and medical response services in good health. First responders from Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Tyngsboro, Dracut, Methuen, Billerica, Dunstable, Andover, North Andover and Wilmington as well as Hudson and Pelham, NH, have been invited to participate in the event.
A natural outgrowth of the annual First Responders Night, which celebrates the accomplishments of its members in responding to critical emergencies in Lowell and the surrounding towns, the impetus for a health fair targeted to first responders came as a result of discussions at a command meeting last summer with Lowell Police Chief Ken Lavallee and Saints Medical Center management and EMS staff.
“In a line of work that puts the lives of first responders at risk for stress-related health problems, it is imperative that we look at ways to increase participation in health screenings and wellness programs for these valuable, yet vulnerable members of our community,” said Police Chief Lavallee.
James Waters, MD, director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Saints agreed. “The bodies of first responders are under constant stress, rushing to several emergency situations in the course of each work day,” commented Dr. Waters. “The adrenaline is flowing, the heart is pumping, and this ‘fight or flight’ sensation inside the body is repeating itself many times during the day. It can be very damaging to the heart and other internal systems.” Dr. Waters added, “Those with underlying medical conditions such as plaque in their arteries and high blood pressure are at an increased risk of heart problems. It is critical that first responders participate in regular screenings and wellness regimens to ensure they are maintaining proper health.”
The First Responders Health Fair is strongly supported by Saints Medical Center administration. According to President and CEO Michael Guley, this program epitomizes the role of a community hospital. “We are dedicated to being the community’s lifeline to good health for all who live and work in the Greater Lowell area,” stated Mr. Guley. “It is important that we take care of those who take care of our community… our police, fire and emergency medical service personnel. Building upon an already strong relationship with our local first responders, it makes sense for Saints to be proactive in providing a preventive health initiative that meets the specific needs of these individuals.”
The inaugural First Responders Health Fair is one component of a comprehensive year-long wellness program that focuses on screening, prevention and education. The Health Fair will provide a variety of free, confidential screenings, including blood sugar/cholesterol/HDL; blood pressure; sleep apnea; electrocardiogram (EKG) and pulmonary function. The event will also offer consultations with physicians, dieticians, diabetes educators and clinical pharmacists. Additional program offerings in the coming months will include skin cancer and prostate cancer screenings, stress management workshops and educational health seminars.
For more information on Saturday’s inaugural First Responders Health Fair, hosted by Saints Medical Center, please call 978-934-8265.
About Saints Medical Center
Saints Medical Center is a nonprofit, full service, acute care community hospital serving Greater Lowell and the Merrimack Valley since 1839. A 163-bed licensed medical center, Saints provides advanced health services to 315,000 residents in 25 towns. With nearly 400 physicians and 1,400 employees, Saints Medical Center is well known for outstanding medical care and patient-centered facilities including our Centers of Excellence in Cancer Care, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular Services and Women’s Health. Saints also offers convenient community-based care at several ambulatory sites and is dedicated to promoting health and wellness in the community. We have clinical affiliations with the leading Boston academic medical centers and are proud to be one of the top-rated hospitals in Massachusetts according to the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
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