FIREFIGHTER FITNESS WELLNESS

1
FIREFIGHTER FITNESS / WELLNESS
2
Fire Service Joint Labor and Management
Wellness-Fitness (WEFIT) Initiative

• Cooperative Effort by the IAFF and IAFC
• Components Include
• Medical Examinations
• Fitness Evaluations and Programs
• Disease Screening and Immunizations
• Medical/ Fitness/ Injury Rehabilitation
• Data Gathering and Reporting

3
Benefits of Fitness / Wellness Program

• Increased Physical Performance and Stamina
• Improved Mental Health
• Reduced Line of Duty Deaths, Injuries and
  Disabilities
• Early Detection of Potential Disease
• Reduced Medical Costs, Workers Comp Claims, and
  Time Missed From Duty
• Improved Quality of Life

4
Cardiovascular Fitness

• Risk of death during fire suppression activities
  is 10-100 times higher than when performing
  non-emergency activities. (The New England
  Journal of Medicine- 2007)
• Exposure to smoke other toxic products of
  combustion combined with extreme heat, stress,
  and going from rest to strenuous physical
  activity in a short period of time, all combine
  to increase the risk of heart attacks.
• Cardiovascular screening and Stress EKGs can
  identify potential problems before tissue damage
  occurs.
• A cardiovascular fitness program can increase
  aerobic capacity and reduce the risk of heart
  disease.

5
Strength Training

• Increases Work Capacity
• Reduces Body Fat
• Strengthens Core and Aids in Balance
• Reduces Spinal and Muscular Injuries
• (See NFPA 1583 Standard on Health Related Fitness
  Programs for Fire Fighters for additional
  information).

6
Regular Physical Exams

• Early detection can identify risk factors early
  to minimize risk of cardiac disease, cancer, and
  stroke.
• Standards for comprehensive medical evaluations
  can be found in NFPA 1582.
• Physicals are required in OSHA Respiratory
  Standards Act for all persons wearing
  respirators.

7
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTIONNATIONAL FIREFIGHTER
NEAR MISS REPORTING SYSTEM

• Report Number 06-0000255 Report Date
  04/26/2006
• Event Description
• While participating in an annual physical exam,
  a positive colon cancer was detected. This
  positive test was confirmed by an outside source.
  This case is but one of four or five that have
  surfaced in the past three years.
• Lesson Learned
• Extensive annual physical examinations for all
  fire/rescue personnel are a must. In fact, an
  intense Wellness-Fitness Program should be an
  integral part of every department. The annual
  physical exam is, in part, a discovery phase.
  Other components of the Wellness-Fitness Program
  may help reduce the chance of developing this
  disease or at the very least promote early
  detection.

8
Report Number 06-0000285 Report Date 05/19/2006

• Event Description
• I participated in the Departments annual medical
  physical. A 12- lead EKG indicated a non
  diagnostic, abnormal EKG. The physician
  recommended a stress test. The first stress test
  led to a cardio light stress test. The results
  showed blockages and the recommended course of
  action was a cardio cath with the intent to
  perform angioplasty or stenting. The cardio cath
  showed total blockages in two arteries and
  partial in a third resulting in bypass surgery. I
  had participated in my own annual physical 6
  months prior to the Department physical and the
  EKG at that time showed no indications of any
  problems. I never experienced chest pain and was
  asymptomatic. The required annual Department
  physical was key in identifying the issue. My
  surgery was February 1st and I returned to work
  on a part time basis April 3. I expect to be
  released to full duty in mid June.

9
Report Number 06-0000285 Report Date 05/19/2006

• Lesson Learned
• Our organization implemented annual physicals
  three years ago. It is imperative that
  departments have a medical physical program that
  identifies potentially fatal diseases such as
  cancer or coronary artery disease. It is our
  intent to expand our program to include further
  coronary screening as well as providing
  presentations regarding lifestyle changes, i.e.
  diet and exercise, which will help improve the
  physical well-being of our employees.

10
MENTAL HEALTH

• Critical Incident Stress must be addressed to
  promote mental well-being.
• EAP programs can anonymously assist employees
  struggling with job stress, family problems, and
  various addictions.
• Learning to effectively manage stress can reduce
  its negative physical manifestations.

11
Nutritional Counseling

• A proper diet is essential for optimum health.
• Teaching our members to eat right can have
  positive long-term effects.
• A healthy diet can result in lower risk of cancer
  and cardiac disease.

12
Conclusion

• An effective Fitness/ Wellness program can have
  lasting long-term benefits to the employee and
  the organization.
• NFPA 1582 and 1583 can be referenced, along with
  the IAFF / IAFC Wellness / Fitness initiative if
  you need ideas to begin a program.