Renton Fire and Emergency Service Department crews will be all over the city providing preventative screenings to the public for free during February as part of “Renton Heart Month.”

The effort is part of an annual campaign to increase public awareness about heart health issues and related cardiovascular conditions, such as diseases, stroke and high blood pressure.

One of the big pushes the last couple of years has been to reach different cultures, who typically don’t see a primary doctor, said Lt. Tom Curtis of Renton Station 14.

Curtis was out with firefighters Mike Cabage and Charlie Nevegold on Monday doing free blood pressure and blood sugar checks at the Renton Walmart. Those who participated were given a card with guidelines for healthy and non-healthy ranges for each, as well as other community health-resource information.

Renton firefighters and emergency medical technicians have visited Renton businesses, the Spanish-speaking services at St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, the Sikh Temple and the Great Wall Mall to name a few. Every single day of February a crew will be somewhere in the community doing screenings.

“People with high blood pressure are even at a higher risk for heart attacks,” said Curtis. The City of Renton reports that cardiovascular diseases are the nation’s No. 1 killer.