In this series, Fire Engineering Senior Editor Mary Jane Dittmar looks at the things that motivated and inspired instructors to present on their topics at FDIC International 2016. Segments will be posted on a regular basis up to and through the conference, April 18-23.
(L-R): Dan Kerrigan and Jim Moss
Dan Kerrigan
Assistant Fire Marshal
Health and Fitness Coordinator
East Whiteland (PA) Township Fire Department
Jim Moss
Lieutenant
Metro West (MO) Fire Protection District
Fundamentals of Firefighter Functional Fitness
SEE VIDEO
Monday, April 18, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Each year, for decades, health-related events have been the number one cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths. Although we as a profession agree intellectually that improving firefighter health and fitness is critical, far fewer take tangible actions to reduce their health risks.
For this reason, we took on firefighter fitness head-on by developing our program: “The Fundamentals of Firefighter Functional Fitness.” We bring years of fire service and fitness experience to the table and present our program in a format that anyone, from the most deconditioned firefighter to the most highly trained occupational athlete, can use. Our goal is to teach and inspire our fire service brothers and sisters, from the rookie to the fire chief, to take better care of themselves through proper fitness, rest and recovery, hydration, and nutrition.
Firefighter health and fitness is personal. Every firefighter who makes a change for the better, who leads by example, becomes part of the solution to the health-related firefighter LODD epidemic. Our program provides the tools and knowledge to start firefighters down the right path to optimum health and improved fireground performance.
