By Kevin Hughes
“There are two classes of men and women in our cities who, more than almost any others, need daily and systematic bodily exercise in order to make them efficient for their duties. They do on the home front what the army does for the whole country in war time — they protect life and property. These are the police and fire fighters. And what training have these fire fighters or police officers for this trying work outside of what the fire or incident itself actually gives? Practically none. Suppose every man and women on the force was required to spend an hour, or even half an hour, daily in work which would call into play not all their muscles, but simply those likely to be most needed when the real work came…Is there any question that a force made up of such men and women would be far better qualified for their work, and far more efficient at it?”
The above passage was written in 1879 by a gentleman by the name of Blakie. Even though this passage was written more than 100 years ago, it still holds truth today.
Think about the tasks a firefighter or EMS worker may have to perform on a daily basis. As you put yourself in harm’s way on a daily basis, the stresses and pressures you put on your body will take their toll negatively, impacting your life, unless you are prepared to do something about it. This column will help to provide you with the tools necessary to create a better life for yourself as well as help improve your lifestyle.
You ask, Why is fitness important to a firefighter? Understand that before we talk about fitness in the fire service we must look at the general realm of fitness. Fitness has different purposes for different people. A few examples are listed below:
- To look better. Fitness helps us to look better, and when we look better in the mirror, our self-esteem improves and we achieve a more positive self-image.
- To feel better. Exercise has been shown to reduce the bouts of cold/flu you experience annually. It also gives you a general feeling of self-worth and self-confidence.
- Performance. This can be related to either job performance or athletics. Either way, some people work out so their jobs are easier to perform or their sports become more natural to play. There is a professional level to this as well. The professional realizes that fitness is a double edge sword. It is good for the employer because job performance will improve, sick time will decrease, and the risk of injury can go down. It is good for the employee because he can take fitness with him wherever he goes.
Fitness includes several components, among them:
- Muscular Strength
- Muscular Endurance
- Flexibility
- Cardiovascular Training
- Nutrition
To effectively deal with the physical stress associated with the job, firefighters need to know how to attain and maintain a high level of health and physical fitness. This in turn will lead to healthful living, improved job performance, and reduced job-related injuries.
Firefighting is extremely physical work driven by the unpredictable nature of the emergencies at hand. Most injuries occur during work on a call (74%, according o the National Fire Protection Association in 1988). Firefighting requires superior strength and skill. However, what is overlooked is what is pointed out in the scientific literature–the ability to perform at a certain level for a duration or an improved work stamina. Lance Armstrong best described this measure of VO2max as “the amount of oxygen you can take in and use.” The higher amount of oxygen you can take in and use, the longer you will be productive in fire suppression activities. It was suggested by Dr. James Shaffrath from the University of California at Davis that firefighters have an aerobic capacity equivalent to running a 1.5-mile run in 12:00 minutes or less for optimal work performance.
Kevin Hughes is a coach and fitness director for the Sacramento City (CA) Fire Department. He has been managing the In House Health and Fitness Program for the department for two years. He also has been involved with Sierra College Fire Academy as a health and fitness instructor for the cadets. He has a bachelor of science in exercise physiology from the University of California at Davis. For three years of his attendance at UC Davis, he worked as a rehabilitation aide at Woodland Memorial Hospital and Burger Physical Therapy. Kevin also has credentials in Professional Training from the International Fitness Professional Association and also the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
