RUNNING INTO FITNESS

Firefighting is one of the most physically demanding and hazardous of all civilian occupations. The strenuous nature of firefighting tasks, the high incidence of injury, and premature death have been well documented. If firefighters cannot perform their duties, they are at an increased risk of suffering from an occupational hazard or incurring injury. Successful job performance is dependent on the firefighter’s ability to perform strenuous physical activity. When appropriate fitness levels are met, accidents and injuries are reported to decrease, and job performance is improved.

Firefighters are performing their work wearing an excess of 50 pounds of gear. When fighting a fire, firefighters perform at or near maximal effort and work in a hot environment. They are also exposed to numerous environmental hazards. All these conditions put the firefighter at a high risk/stress level. If the firefighters have poor fitness, they are at extremely high risk for cardiovascular death and decreased performance on the fire ground.

The MFRD has established a schedule to evaluate all sworn personnel doing planks, push-ups, and either a 1.5-mile run or a 2-mile walk. All personnel are expected to perform the test items to the best of their ability. The established norms are based on health and wellness norms developed by Dr. Hank Williford, a kinesiologist with Auburn University-Montgomery for MFRD. The exercises are supported by NFPA 1582.

Research conducted with the national fire services evaluated good wellness programs compared to departments with less than optimal programs. The study results found that firefighters in the vital programs were healthier and had less body fat. They had a lower prevalence of obesity, anxiety disorder, smoking, and greater levels of physical activity/ exercise, and job satisfaction.

Forty-five percent of all firefighter deaths are related to cardiovascular disease. But participation in wellness programs can prevent risk factors related to cardiovascular events.

THE BOTTOM LINE is that MFRD’s established health promotion program aims to produce healthier firefighters who perform better on the job.