CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois Fire Service Institute has been awarded nearly $1 million from the federal government to help pay for research to reduce the rate of heart attacks among firefighters.

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson announced Wednesday evening that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded $990,801 to the institute as part of its Fire Prevention and Safety program.

Dr. Gavin Horn, a research scientist at the Fire Service Institute, said the grant will pay for a study of the effects of aspirin in preventing the formation of blood clots and reducing the incidents of heart attacks among firefighters.

Horn cited a recent study by the National Fire Protection Association that showed that heart attacks are the No. 1 cause of fatalities for firefighters in the United States.

Horn said previous research indicates that firefighting activities — and stress or exertion related to those activities — can affect arterial functions within the body, possibly increasing the likelihood firefighters experience heart attacks.

“We’re going to look at the things that cause heart attacks and see what can be done to prevent them,” Horn said on Wednesday night.

Horn said the institute will examine whether long-term aspirin therapy can reduce the number of instances of heart attacks among firefighters.

“We want to see if a regimen of aspirins can help reduce those instances,” Horn said. “Can a firefighter take one aspirin on the way to a fire and see if it will have a positive effect?”

Horn said this is the second year the institute received a Fire Prevention and Safety grant.

One year ago, the institute received approximately $724,000 to develop procedures and equipment for the use of escape rope systems by firefighters, Horn said.