The City of Renton is asking residents to take heart this February with respect to health as part of the annual “Heart Month.”

The Renton Fire and Emergency Services Department will provide a program with free preventative screenings to the public that include blood pressure and blood sugar checks.

“I encourage residents to help reduce the risks of heart disease by taking advantage of the free screenings that are being made available as part of our month-long promotion,” said Mayor Denis Law in a release.

Throughout the month of February Renton Firefighters and EMTs will perform the free screenings as they visit various Renton schools, businesses, and community groups.

In addition, firefighters and staff from Valley Medical Center offer these vital services at a number of culturally diverse locations in Renton, including Fairwood and East Plateau neighborhoods.

These locations include DK Market, St. Anthony’s Church, the Sikh Temple, and the Ukrainian Community Center, among others.

The city is putting an emphasis on reaching out to Renton’s diverse populations.

The campaign is designed to increase public awareness about heart health and related cardiovascular conditions.

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and high blood pressure, continue to be our nation’s number one killer, according to the city’s release.

Last year the Renton Fire & Emergency Services Department performed over 7,000 screenings during the month of February.

Of those screened, 860 people were found to have high blood pressure and 624 people had elevated to dangerous blood sugar levels.

People who were at risk were encouraged to see their doctor in order to address the risk and help prevent future medical complications.For more information visit the city’s web site or call 425-430-7000.