Fitness in the Fire service

[somebuffyguy 190]

http://www.firehouse.com/news/11569537/university-of-texas-study-says-too-many-firefighters-are-overweight?utm_source=FH+Newsday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS140705002

Interesting article. How many departments (career or volunteer) have fitness programs ? Career firefighters are required to be in shape when they get hired (CPAT) but do any departments have their firefighters retake it, 5,10, 20 years down the road ? What do your departments do to promote fitness ?

My volunteer department gives reimbursements for gym membership, but has no real way of testing its firefighters fitness. Any ideas ?

[firefighter36 52]

Crossfit has tons of open-source workouts. You don't need tons of weights and equipment to get in fighting shape.

Also- if you want to experience the CPAT- you can always go take it in CT. http://www.ct.gov/cfpc/cwp/view.asp?Q=246722

[nycmedic 65]

The fd that i volly at is against having a gym because of liability. Which is a joke bc if we had a gym members will be in shape and reduce the risk of havinf a mi during or after a call

[somebuffyguy 190]

Crossfit has tons of open-source workouts. You don't need tons of weights and equipment to get in fighting shape.

Also- if you want to experience the CPAT- you can always go take it in CT. http://www.ct.gov/cfpc/cwp/view.asp?Q=246722

Thanks for the input, but I'm really looking more for what departments do and can do to improve fitness in their ranks. While fitness really needs to be taken up by individuals its become pretty clear from the numbers that firefighters aren't getting themselves in shape. Departments need to to start taking action to change it.

The fd that i volly at is against having a gym because of liability. Which is a joke bc if we had a gym members will be in shape and reduce the risk of havinf a mi during or after a call

That is a little ridiculous considering how much more likely it is for a firefighter to be injured on an emergency scene. I can understand that they're trying to avoid liability, have the members at your department looked into a gym reimbursement plan?

[firefighter36 52]

Could your FD/Benevolent/Fire Company hire a trainer to come to the firehouse or buy gym equipment? Some departments do just that.

Culture change is tough- it is especially tough in the fire service. However, the two leading causes of death amongst firefighters are heart attacks and cancer. A solid PT and nutrition regimen can prevent both of those. It can also keep your members in shape to a point that strains and injuries are reduced.

You have to show how such a program could lead to a cost savings or produce a benefit. Hardest part is getting the membership and the decision makers who hold the purse strings to buy in.

[nycmedic 65]

We tried going through the benevolent they denied it with the excuse of " not every member will or can use the gym. In order for the benevolent to buy a gym it has to benefit EVERY member and every member has to be able to use the gym. This is the problem that you run knto when you have people in charge that have been in the fd for a decade or more ans have been in a fore or have not been in a rig besides for a parade in years

[nycmedic 65]

* have not been in a fire

[FirNaTine 370]

Never mind the Gym how many FFs smoke? Take some personal responsibility for your health and don't wait for your Dept. to purchase equipment and implement a fitness program. Besides the Fire Service has enough "Paper Tigers" anyway!

[firefighter36 52]

We tried going through the benevolent they denied it with the excuse of " not every member will or can use the gym. In order for the benevolent to buy a gym it has to benefit EVERY member and every member has to be able to use the gym. This is the problem that you run knto when you have people in charge that have been in the fd for a decade or more ans have been in a fore or have not been in a rig besides for a parade in years

How would having a gym adversely affect members who don't use it?!?!? It can only get better for these folks if they do use it! I understand your frustration....

[Bnechis 3,961]

We tried going through the benevolent they denied it with the excuse of " not every member will or can use the gym. In order for the benevolent to buy a gym it has to benefit EVERY member and every member has to be able to use the gym. This is the problem that you run knto when you have people in charge that have been in the fd for a decade or more ans have been in a fore or have not been in a rig besides for a parade in years

If this was a valid reason (as opposed to an excuse) for the benevolent to not pay, then they must look at everything they do and if it does not include EVERY member then they should not fund it. How many annual dinners do they fund? Does every single member go to these dinners?

[everybodygoes 331]

Get the guys that b**** you don't have a stupid vest over bunker gear to become more concerned with the guy that is 100lbs overweight trying to advance a hand line!

Edited July 13, 2014 by everybodygoes

[firefighter36 52]

http://mobile.firehouse.com/news/11569537/university-of-texas-study-says-too-many-firefighters-are-overweight

Exactly why we need fitness and nutrition in the fire service.