History

Although firefighting and rescue operations may demand strenuous physical exertion from time to time, a majority of the duties of fire department personnel can be characterized as sedentary in nature (i.e. building inspection, public education, equipment maintenance, and incident investigative activities ). The combination of these two extremes in physical activity is responsible for a significant number of on-the-job injuries and illnesses. Annually the leading cause of death for on-duty firefighters and law enforcement officers is cardiovascular disease; it accounts for nearly 50% of all fatalities. Recent studies have shown that firefighters over 35 years of age are at higher risk of coronary artery disease than the general population. Additionally, nearly half of their disabling injuries can be attributed to a lack of physical fitness.

In response to a growing concern for the disabling illnesses and injuries of firefighters in Virginia, Dr. David Bever and his colleagues at George Mason University developed the FireFit Program in 1982. Since that time departments utilizing FireFit training principles have realized significant reductions in lost worktime injuries and workers’ compensation claims. The most significant injury reductions have involved muscular strains to the upper shoulder girdle and the low back. Of special importance has been the discovery that firefighters who participate in an ongoing, on-the-job fitness program utilize less sick leave and recover more quickly when injured in the line of duty than those not participating in such a program.

The FireFit Program was designed to increase the cardiorespiratory efficiency, muscular strength, muscular endurance, lean body mass, and flexibility of officers. Personnel from participating departments completed an initial battery of tests to measure their levels of fitness. These tests include:

• One repetition-maximum bench press
• 1 minute timed sit-up test
• Sit & reach flexibility test
• Pull-ups
• Push-ups
• 1.5 mile run
• Body fat estimation
• Resting heart rate
• Blood pressure

The above protocols were selected, since they have been found to be good predictors of the five major areas of fitness (aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition).

In 1989 a FITNESS LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION COURSE was developed to assist fire and rescue departments in the development of health and fitness programs for their personnel. This three-day course provides firefighters with a variety of assessment tools and training strategies to plan and implement effective health maintenance programs for their personnel.

Throughout the FireFit Fitness Leadership Program the instructional process emphasizes active participation. During the first day each participant will complete a battery of fitness evaluations. The information obtained from these profiles will serve as the basis for interpreting the major components of health related fitness (muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory function and body composition) which are discussed and demonstrated throughout the course. These profiles also will be used to assist each fitness leader in developing the necessary skills for providing individual exercise prescriptions for his/her fellow firefighters.

During days two and three of the program fitness leaders will receive detailed instruction concerning weight training, flexibility and stretching, aerobic fitness, nutrition, and stress management. Upon completion of FireFit®’s Leadership Program fitness leaders will have the skills necessary to develop an on-going health maintenance program for their departments.

FireFit Program Objectives

Completion of the FireFit® Program will enable fitness leaders to:

• Understand the benefits provided by regular exercise including reduced cardiovascular risk, management of stress, weight control, improved professional performance and a sense of physical and mental well being.
• Understand the physiology of exercise including its effects on aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
• Understand the relationships between physical fitness and other lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, and alcohol use.
• Promote effectively a wide range of fitness activities among fellow officers including on the job and off the job fitness activities through skilled leadership, motivational techniques, and reinforcement strategies.
• Monitor the fitness status of their fellow firefighters as they progress in the FireFit® Program.

FireFit® Fitness Leadership Curriculum Overview

To enhance instruction, every session has an associated activity component, which allows officers to apply in a practical manner the concepts that they are learning. This hands-on, experiential approach motivates fitness leaders in the FireFit® Program to lead by example and reinforces the fact that any successful fitness program must have the active support of senior management.

Day One
Session 1: Firefighters and Physical Fitness
Session 2: During this session participants will complete a battery of health and fitness assessments.
Session 3: Interpreting and Applying Assessment Information: Cardiovascular Fitness
Session 4: Interpreting and Applying Assessment Information: Flexibility

Day Two
Session 5: Interpreting and Applying Assessment Information: Muscular Strength and Endurance
Session 6: Interpreting and Applying Assessment Information and Results: Body Composition
Session 7: Firefighter Fitness Assessments

Day Three
Session 8: Nutrition and Weight Control for Officers
Session 9: Prevention and Treatment of Exercise-Induced Injuries
Session 10: Promoting Optimum Health: Motivational and Reinforcement Strategies