Forest Park has launched an in-house health and behavioral wellness program for the city’s fire and emergency medical services personnel.

The Clayton County city said it has received a more than $27,500 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters program to pay for the wellness plan.

“Often times, our residents rely heavily on the brave men and women who are the first to respond to some of the most dangerous life-threatening emergencies, Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler said in a statement announcing the program.

“By having these critical resources, we are able to help improve the quality of life for our firefighters and EMS staff, while also working to ensure they can maintain overall wellness during their distinguished careers and well into retirement,” she said.

Participants in the program can get physical exams, cancer screenings, cardiac stress tests and vision assessments. Trauma and behavioral counseling also will be available as part of the program, the city said.

“Being a first responder takes great sacrifice and dedication in order to get the job done,” Forest Park Fire and Emergency Management Chief Latosha Clemons said. “I am extremely proud that we are taking additional steps to address these important issues as it relates to the health and well-being of our exceptional team.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ordered all 61 defendants in the RICO case to file individual motions by May 30, and said he will hold at least 12 separate trials. After months of no movement, the case is back in court as Farmer takes over. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Featured

The Thanksgiving air travel period is on as passengers made their way through the airport Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during the holidays can be an ordeal. Parking shortages could disrupt your plans and security waits can be long during busy periods, causing bottlenecks. Hartsfield-Jackson is advising travelers to get to the airport at least 2½ hours before their domestic flight and at least 3 hours before their international flight. (John Spink/AJC)

Credit: John Spink