FIREFIGHTERS and their support staff in Chorley will help raise awareness of the 'silent killer' during a special campaign this month.

They are supporting the first ever National Blood Pressure Testing Week.

The aim is to shed more light on the dangers of high blood pressure which kills an estimated 50,000 in England alone each year.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with the National Blood Pressure Association by sending its occupational health unit staff on a series of visits to fire stations to test the blood pressure of firefighters and support staff colleagues.

They will be at Chorley Fire Station, Weldbank Lane, tomorrow (Friday, September 21), from 2-3pm.

Jane Harford, the unit nurse who will conduct the tests, said: "A healthy workforce is fundamental to the provision of an efficient fire service and we can do a great deal as the service's occupational health unit to prevent the onset of ill-health and so maintain the operational capabilities of our firefighters and support staff."

She added: "We are glad to support the Blood Pressure Association's campaign with this series of visits to get the vital message across to a wider audience."

Meanwhile, the association says the 50,000 deaths cost hospitals at least £1 billion a year and that this increases dramatically when drugs, loss of productivity and the costs to quality of life are included.

High blood pressure is a killer through heart attacks, heart failure and strokes and is known as the silent killer, as it has no symptoms.

Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of the association, said: "The UK needs to dramatically improve its record of identifying and treating high blood pressure if the lives of thousands of people are to be improved and saved.

"Often the first time somebody knows they have the condition is when they discover they have a heart condition or have a stroke."

He added: "Clearly the Government and the medical profession have a key role in ensuring detection rates and treatment improve.

"However, the general public too must begin to take more responsibility for finding out what their blood pressure levels are -- and what they should be."

According to a Gallup Poll only 16 per cent of adults knew the generally accepted healthy maximum level for blood pressure and just 27 per cent knew what their blood pressure was.

"Know your Numbers! Check it or Check out" will be run around the UK by more than 300 Pressure Stations which will offer free blood pressure tests.

Details of station locations are available from the BPA website (www.bpassoc.org.uk) or from the association itself -- telephone 020 8772 4994.