<p>Prince George's County </p><p>Fire/EMS</p><p>Department</p><p>Wellness and Fitness</p><p>Crew Education Wellness</p><p> Statistics continue to show that almost 50 percent of fire fighter fatalities are heart attacks, and almost 50 percent of those who died had heart- related problems. </p><p> The development and issuance of national level standards in 1992 for the medical requirements for fire fighters emphasized health related issues involved in the fire service. </p><p> In 1997, a focus on health related fitness programs was developed to significantly reduce fire fighter fatalities and injuries. </p><p> Simply put, overweight, out-of-shape, burnout fire fighters are an accident waiting to happen.</p><p>Physical</p><p>Spiritual Emotional</p><p>Dimensions of Wellness</p><p>Career Family</p><p>Financial Social Fitness</p><p> In the world of workforce professions, fire service personnel are considered to be “industrial athletes”. </p><p> The multiple stress factors and rigors of this profession require individuals to be fit enough to perform extremely strenuous physical job tasks. </p><p> These job tasks can require a fire fighter to burn up to 1000+ calories per hour. This is the equivalent of setting a treadmill to 4.2 mph at a 16% grade incline and beyond! </p><p> For fire service personnel, a multi-disciplined and comprehensive fitness program should be designed to perform these strenuous activities with vigor. </p><p> In addition, the typical personality profiles of fire service personnel reveal an “athlete type” behavioral pattern. This includes:</p><p> o Perfectionism o Highly competitive o Strives for positive outcome o Willing to sacrifice and work hard o Self reliant, tendency to be a “risk taker” o Enjoys adrenaline rush</p><p> Another consideration is physical and health durability to work 20+ years avoiding premature development of injuries, illnesses and mortality. Multi-Disciplined and Durable </p><p>Muscular Strength The ability to exert a maximal force at a given speed in a single voluntary contraction.</p><p>Muscular Endurance The ability to exert a sub-maximal force for voluntary contractions or one extended contraction. </p><p>Fire Service Fitness Cardio-Pulmonary Capacity The ability of the heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to working muscles for extended periods of time.</p><p>Flexibility The ability to have a range of motion at a joint and/or spine. Programs and Exercises</p><p>The following are examples of programs and exercises in each area of a fire fighters ideal physical fitness program.</p><p>Muscular Strength – Heavy weights/Low Repetitions</p><p> Squats/Leg Press  Bench Press  Pulldowns/Pullups</p><p>Muscular Endurance – Moderate weights/Higher Repetitions</p><p> Circuit Training o Calisthenics/Exercise Ball o Dumbbells/Free Weights o Machine Weights  Functional Physical Fitness Training</p><p>Cardio-Pulmonary Capacity </p><p> Aerobic/Endurance Training  Anaerobic/Interval Training </p><p>Flexibility </p><p> Static Stretching  Pre-Movement Stretching  Core Stabilization “Pivot Point” Longevity</p><p>The Centenarian Personality*</p><p>What can you learn from 100 year old people?</p><p>Never Sense Smoked Of Not Humor Obese</p><p>Sense No Of Major Hope Centenarian Illnesses</p><p>Willing Practices To Stress Engage Reduction Healthy Coping Mechanisms</p><p>*Information taken from “Aging Smart…Aging Well” Monika White, PhD, President/CEO Center for Healthy Aging, March 2006</p>