Could you design a basic exercise program for maintaining or improving your cardiovascular system? Do you know how to improve your muscular endurance and/or muscular strength? How do you compensate for interrupted/inadequate sleep? What is a “proper” diet for a firefighter, and do you need to take supplements to improve your health or physical performance? Shouldn’t we as firefighters have education and training devoted to taking care of ourselves? The purpose of this article is to justify the need for a physical education curriculum designed specifically for the fire service. In addition, the article recommends topics and suggests avenues for disseminating information.
Firefighters already have a tremendous responsibility of taking care of equipment and apparatus. In addition, we are bombarded with new training information on how to do our jobs safely and effectively. It has been determined at federal, state, and local levels that we should become thoroughly educated on the effects of biological and chemical agents that might come our way in the event of a terrorist attack. The basis for all of our fire training starts and ends with personal safety as the top priority. Where does health and fitness education fit in? Is health and fitness education something we should get out of infomercials or star-studded fitness magazines? We need to take a more substantive approach to the number-one killer of firefighters, cardiac arrest.
Education about our own body and how to take care of it should not be an option. Our nation has the fattest people on the planet: Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and the trend continues to worsen at an alarming and relentless pace. Obesity and related diseases kill the second highest number of people in the United States, behind smoking, and may surpass smoking in the next couple of years.
Our children are failing to realize their physical prime primarily because of a destructive lifestyle comprised of malnutrition and lack of physical activity (stick ball, tag, and kick the can are out). How can this be? We live in the richest nation on earth. Firefighters in their 50s, 40s, and 30s are dying from heart attacks (sometimes on the way to a call). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) attributes the deaths from heart attacks in the fire service to “overexertion.” This description is not accurate and falsely portrays the cause of heart attacks from heroic efforts on the fireground. This is either a deadly game of denial or, at best, a lack of understanding of the real causes. Physical education/training is a major step in improving the situation.
WHAT IS PHYSICAL EDUCATION?
We need a physical education curriculum designed to help us take care of ourselves, but the discipline of physical education has a somewhat questionable history regarding its effectiveness in promoting positive health and fitness practices. Physical education classes were reduced and, in many cases, eliminated in our nation’s schools in the 1970s and 1980s primarily because of budgetary pressures and a national campaign to improve performance in science and math (remember, we were falling behind Japan and Europe). Administrators viewed physical education as somewhat frivolous and random, partly because of the “recess-like” atmosphere and lack of substantive curriculum-in other words, kids weren’t really learning anything of value.
In theory, physical education should be a tangible link connecting exercise, nutritional practices, and other human dynamics (stress, sleep, for example) and the cumulative effects on the human body. A person with a basic physical education should understand how to make activity and nutritional choices that promote a healthful lifestyle.
In today’s media-filled world, however, this is especially challenging. We cannot get through a day without being exposed to incredible claims of products alleged to provide painless ways to lose weight and regain youth. There is a solution in a bottle for all our woes, including sexual impotence. Recently, the American Medical Association has categorized obesity as a disease. We continue to create and promote an environment that says, “it’s not our fault” and that the solution ultimately will come in the form of some type of medical intervention. What a mess we’ve created for ourselves! Our nation is spiraling downward in a health-care crisis largely because we are in the midst of a “health crisis”! The problem is, the average person, including firefighters, does not have enough basic knowledge to sort it out and take appropriate action.
Step back for a moment, and take a look at life in America today. Do you push a lawnmower, or does it pull you along (or do you just sit on one)? Do you wash your own car, change the oil, or pull the weeds? Do you prepare all your meals at home the old-fashioned way, standing in the kitchen? Most of us are too busy for all that. There is also an underlying element in our culture that promotes anything that reduces or eliminates mundane chores and physical exertion as a measure of wealth or success. For the most part nowadays, we just point and click, we surf the net, we play video games, and we buy products or pay others to do many of our physical chores (can you say “Taco Bell for dinner”?). Modern-day society has a control problem with all the incredible choices at hand.
The fire service certainly has realized the benefits of technological improvements in equipment and protective clothing, including better, lighter-weight products. Does better equipment mean we fight fires now with less effort? I don’t think so. Having been a competitive athlete for more than 30 years, I can say with 100 percent certainty that I have never done anything more exhausting than fighting fire (wrestling was close). In addition, the “Nintendo Generation” is now showing up at your local fire academy. Many recruits understand the need to be physically fit, but many others are coming in with very little understanding of, or commitment to, physical fitness/education. Smoking is down substantially among fire recruits, largely because fire departments have policies prohibiting smoking. But, the number of overweight and obese recruits is on the rise (at least in our local experience). We are truly a microcosm of society!
 Engaging in a regular exercise program can improve (1) cardiovascular health |
I’m sure you are aware of the basic death and injury statistics in the fire service. Almost half of our line-of-duty deaths occur as a result of a major cardiac event. Our life span is nearly 10 years shorter than that of the general population. Four in 10 of us suffer injuries ranging from minor to major each year, according to NIOSH. The fire service is attempting to address our situation at the local and national levels. Federal grants are being awarded specifically for fitness equipment and other components of health and fitness programs. Annual symposia and conferences loaded with health and fitness industry experts and individuals motivated to address the problems head-on are available each year. The fire service is making progress in analyzing, dissecting, and describing the problem. Standards and definitions continue to develop and evolve through National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, 2003 edition, and NFPA 1583, Standard on Health-Related Fitness Pro-grams for Fire Fighters, 2000 edition.
 and (2) muscular strength. (Photos by author.) |
The International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and 10 major fire departments have developed a Wellness/Fitness Initiative designed to provide a basic program for helping us evaluate our health and fitness status. Peer fitness training is available for individuals interested in furthering their education and ability to train others in achieving improved fitness. There has been some progress, but tangible results are still difficult to prove, given the fact that our national statistics regarding injuries and sudden cardiac death don’t appear to be changing at this time.
START AT THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE, AND THE END!
The physical education curriculum should provide a firefighter with a “cradle to grave” approach to being safe and effective. Simply getting in shape or living off natural athletic ability to get through the rigors of an academy and career does nothing to guarantee a firefighter will practice healthful habits for life. Physical education is information on how our bodies work and how our bodies respond to diet and physical activity. Physical education gives us a basis for understanding the rudiments of nutrition. Physical education is not the same as a good hard workout. Physical education is not a great motivational speech about staying in shape for your whole career. Physical education is a natural companion and complement to the EMS side of our education. Physical education is the key component of the prevention side of injury, disease, and premature death. Physical education is not recess, and basic physical education is needed now more than in any other time in our history to combat the ill effects of our modern lifestyle.
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW
Do you understand the benefits associated with being educated about physical fitness? Chances are that you haven’t given it much thought. Most of us view the physical side of life as something that just naturally occurs. Many of us don’t really understand the consequences of nutritional and activity choices. The expertise and information are out there; however, not a lot is tailored to firefighters. Topics found within a curriculum designed for firefighters should include the following:
• An overview and statistical review of firefighter injuries, diseases, and causes of premature death.
• Basic human anatomy and physiology, with an emphasis on the function of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, and central nervous system.
• Proper biomechanics of our job skills.
• Effects of exercise and the imposed physical demands of emergency responses on human anatomy and physiology.
• Training principles and personal program design.
• Basic injury prevention and care practices and techniques.
• Fundamentals of nutrition.
• Effects of popular nutritional supplements and diets.
• Heat stress prevention and care.
• Physiological and physical effects of aging.
• Sleep deprivation and sleep management.
• Physiological effects of stress and stress-management techniques.
There is nothing listed here that hasn’t been thoroughly discussed and researched in this and numerous other publications. The missing component, however, is an accepted standard of knowledge and accountability for members of the fire service. As firefighters, we are responsible for performing our duties safely and effectively and being knowledgeable about our job and maintaining skills. We are required to maintain certifications and continuing education through federal and local mandated training. The premise of our training and education programs is to promote firefighter safety and improve our effectiveness to the public we serve. Developing a physical education curriculum for firefighters is a valid and necessary tool for accomplishing our basic firefighting objectives.
ANOTHER COMMITMENT TO TRAINING
The fire service divides training and education into two basic categories: “need to know” and “nice to know.” Topics related to physical education generally fall into the “nice to know” category. A few of us have had the benefit of having a formal education and experiences related to physical education. The benefit of having a basic knowledge of physical education is that a person can make more informed decisions and develop more positive behavior practices.
The first step in improving the injury and death statistics pertaining to firefighters is instituting an awareness campaign. One has been underway for many years and on many fronts. It is encouraging that a steadily increasing number of departments across the United States are buying into programs, equipment, and personnel devoted to improving their members’ health and fitness. Sometimes, it’s a window-dressing approach. Sometimes, departments make good-intentioned, shotgun approaches that have no real defined goals.
On the other hand, some departments have implemented very comprehensive and effective programs and have saved firefighters’ lives as a result. Wherever your particular department is today regarding this topic, chances are you have had a different health and fitness experience (and physical education) than the department next door or even the other shifts in your fire station have had.
How do we come together and reduce the inconsistencies and misinformation in the fire service and beyond? The answer currently will not be found at the National Fire Academy. (I keep looking and can’t find a curriculum or course.) There is no IFSTA book devoted to this topic. The IAFF/IAFC Wellness/Fitness Initiative is a good model for a fitness evaluation program but does not provide a significant physical education model. The Peer Fitness Trainer program provides a curriculum that has benefits and relevance for firefighters but is not set up to be available to all firefighters and does not cover all the components listed above. The organizations mentioned are positive and contribute to the goal of improving the lives of firefighters. The point of this article is to add a link in the chain of events that needs to occur in the career of a firefighter.
Physical educators involved with the fire service have little difficulty identifying our uniqueness and issues relevant to this topic. The major topics listed above are not ground breaking or revolutionary. Physical educators involved with us, however, must broaden their more common scope of practice dominated by measurement and evaluation and fitness training. Remember the recess problem and perception of little value?
Physical educators must add a more formalized education program. A person responsible for improving the health and fitness of your members shouldn’t just be focused on accomplishing department goals with a tape measure, skin-fold calipers, and a stopwatch.
Training academies and company drills are appropriate places for integrating physical education topics. How do we add one more training topic to what is an ever-growing list of mandatory training? Go back to Firefighter I and review the number one killer of firefighters. Do you get the message? It’s a matter of reassessing the training priorities of the fire service (which we continually do). When our recruits graduate from the Sacramento Regional Fire Academy, they have more certificates and qualifications than can fit in a file cabinet. We already struggle to make enough time for basic firefighting and rescue training, let alone trying to add one more extensive topic. This is a common trend throughout the nation. Recruits participate in physical training and receive education mostly “on the fly” during the fitness portion of the academy. Most recruits improve their physical condition (as well as incur a few overuse injuries) but don’t necessarily have adequate education to continue with positive health and fitness practices. Look at the biggest problems and dangers facing the fire service, and develop training priorities accordingly.
INSTITUTIONALIZING PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE FIRE SERVICE
Is there a ready-made curriculum out there to follow? There are many documents and Web sites full of information related to firefighter health and fitness, but there is not an accepted, validated curriculum covering “Physical Education for Firefighters.” It would be an ominous undertaking by a group of qualified individuals representing the fire service, physical educators, and the legal field to develop such a curriculum. NFPA 1582 and 1583 contain an extensive laundry list of standards and definitions for physical educators and doctors, but it is simply that, a list. Publishers need to develop textbooks devoted to the topic. The IAFF/IAFC should continue to promote and support research and development in the area of health and fitness but should focus more on an educational component that is available to all members. The National Fire Academy and other educational institutions should provide continuing education opportunities and advanced training for individuals responsible for health and fitness education. These and other organizations greatly contribute to our continuing goals of safe and effective operations. The topic of physical education specifically for firefighters, however, has not been adequately addressed.
MAKE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AN INTEGRAL PART OF CURRICULUM
For many firefighters, it is a no-brainer to move forward and get started. Others still cling to a philosophy that this topic is not necessary or appropriate as a core subject in the fire service. Others simply accept premature death and disability as conditions of employment. Ask heart attack survivors how they feel. Ask their family members how they would feel about their loved one’s having an education in how to survive a career in the fire service and live a long retirement to talk about it.
Physical education for firefighters must become an integral part of our educational curriculum, part of our annual training, and part of our academies. Physical education is not adequately being covered for individuals prior to joining the fire service, and it is not part of a collegiate firefighter curriculum. Firefighting organizations must come together and take a pioneering role in developing a comprehensive, relevant, education and training curriculum. A “Physical Education for Firefighters” curriculum would be of benefit for all. ■
