Firefighter Fitness

Let’s face it, fighting fires and saving lives makes firefighting one of the most physically demanding jobs around. On a daily basis, firefighters are put under stressful and strenuous situations such as: carrying heavy equipment up stairs and ladders, lifting or dragging heavy people to safety, and working in awkward spaces where flexibility is vital.
In order to avoid injury and stay productive, it is critical that firefighters stay physically fit and this effort should begin now. There are simple steps that can be taken to ensure that your firefighters are not only staying in tiptop shape, but also decreasing their chances for injury.
• Find extra space around the firehouse, and use it for exercise equipment. See if any local gyms are selling second hand equipment to keep costs low. Jump ropes, balls, tubes and dumbbells are useful pieces of equipment that require little space and are fairly inexpensive. A more pricey gym would include treadmills, steppers, and a full weight set.
• Coordinate a running/walking club that encourages firefighters to train together on or off duty.
• Arrange for nutrition or fitness specialists to come in and educate your group on ways to stay active and healthy.
• Post local 5k , triathlon, duathlon, etc…races on the bulletin board. Encourage your firehouse to put together a team for these competitions.
• Add incentives for firefighters who attend the gym or train independently on their off days.
Firefighters should focus on functional fitness as well. It’s no good if you can carry heavy firefighting equipment but lack the muscular endurance to carry it to the top of a high-rise building. Likewise, its of little use if you can run a marathon in record time but lack any strength to handle heavy hydraulic gear when cutting into the roof of a car. It is imperative that firefighters are active and healthy. Start by implementing some of these steps listed above and make sure your firefighters are doing everything they can to stay strong and resilient.

Photo credit: FirefightersCommon on Flickr.com