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Comment by Matthew Voges on February 18, 2010 at 1:21am

Hi everyone I am a member of Potter County Fire-Rescue and I am deployed to Iraq with the TX Army Nationl Guard. I am trying to git as meany pics of the fire service here in my free time and trading paces. Check out the pics on my profile. I have been working out with Kettle Bells here and I fell in love with them. It is hard to keep them stable so it works more musles at one time, I sugest trying them if you havent already.

Comment by Allen Wahlstrom on December 22, 2009 at 5:23pm

Ride for 9/11 Heroes

On September 11 2001 we lost 343 Brothers. This number does not include the 23 NYPD, or the 37 PAPD brothers & sisters killed trying to rescue thousands from the nightmare that was 9.11, and that number doesn’t come close to the number of brothers and sisters suffering chronic to terminal WTC related illness.

Today the number of brothers and sisters suffering in silence is staggering. And the fact that most firefighters I talk to have no idea we’ve lost (by some estimates) as many as 800 since 9/11 has given us the drive to get their story out to the rest of America.

In September 2011 the “Ride for 9/11 Heroes” will travel from Boston to New York City to raise millions to help them.

Why start in Boston?

Ask any civilian in the world to name two fire departments in this country and almost to a man or woman they will say FDNY and BFD. These two departments are as competitive as the Red Sox and Yankees. Many Jakes went to NYC to help out on and after 9/11. So it made sense to us in planning this event to bridge these two great cities.

The “Ride”

Thousands are sick and or dying from the effects of exposure to toxins in the days and weeks after the attacks, yet we don’t think of their sacrifice when we talk about 9/11. It is time we started not only talking about it, but doing something about it. Ride for 9/11 Heroes is hoping to raise between 5 and 10 million dollars to help our ailing brothers and sisters, and to bring media coverage to their plight.

Benefit Rides…

Across America every spring and summer (even fall and winter in the warmest parts) there are weekly events supporting this cause or that and in over 100 cities the NMSS (National Multiple Sclerosis Society) puts on 2 day events that average 150 miles. These events are held with fewer than 1000 riders in some areas, and as many as the 13,000 riders in the Austin-Houston BP ride!

The MS rides have a minimum commitment of $300 per rider and most people ask friends and family for donations to meet their quota, but some raise $20,000 by themselves. Outside of individuals, there are teams that take these events to unreal levels. Some teams are made up of employees from corporations such as EDS, Southwest Airlines, BP, to name but a few. These big corporate teams can have as many as 300 riders who each raise a minimum of $300 each. That is $900,000 from 1 team! And you can be sure many of these riders get into competitions with their coworkers to see who can raise the most money. Now imagine the level of competition to help out Americas Heroes.

So… you can see this is an incredible way to raise money to help our brothers and sisters.

Ride for 9/11 Heroes

Starting in Boston, Massachusetts and finishing in downtown Manhattan the ride will cover 25-300 miles over 4 days and attract as many as 10,000 cyclists who each raise a minimum of $300 or a minimum total of $3 million that will go directly to foundations and agencies helping those we lost, are losing and their families.

We have elected to enlist the services of Red Licorice Productions (RLP) to organize and promote our event. Why you ask? Simple, RLP is in the business of organizing large events and have the contacts, business knowledge and expertise needed to make this an event, not just a ride.

The Name

Most of us are very uncomfortable with being called heroes. So much so that we shrug it off and say “I am just doing my job…”

But to many we ARE the heroes. Like it or not, civilians look at us in a different light, and expect more of us than others. Well brothers and sisters, we are going to use a title for our event that touches Americans and unlike MS or Diabetes, or ALS, Firefighters and Police officers are not a disease. We are the guys they see washing the trucks on Saturday morning, getting groceries at Publix, Safeway, or HEB, or coming to the aid of someone they know. Everyone knows a cop or a firefighter.
People remember our brothers and sisters that dies that Tuesday morning nearly 10 years ago, and because of that we are going to raise millions to help these brothers and sisters, and if it takes using the Hero moniker to get the general public’s attention, so be it…

TCSS
Wally

Comment by Travis Bowers on August 9, 2009 at 7:15pm

ENGINE/ PUMPER DRIVER group. I hope everyone will join it, even if you do not drive or operate one, thanks!!!

Comment by chris jarvis on July 22, 2009 at 12:04am

thanks for having me,need all the help we can get

Comment by Rob Cheesman on July 14, 2009 at 5:14pm

Just a up date it has been one month since my surgery and Iam walking 3 1/2 miles a day and I have lost 45 lbs in one month and I feel great

Comment by Rob Cheesman on June 25, 2009 at 10:24am

Just a update to all that read may blog about my gastric by pass surgery that I had on June 10th 2009 I madr through a okay with no problems at all now at the two week mark I have lost 30 lbs and I feel great bored out of my mind because I can't do much because of the lifting restrictions I still have but doing good I would like to thank all the sent me well wishes I really enjoyed them Thank you

Comment by Eric Hamlett on June 14, 2009 at 1:20pm

Hi ever one . Im Eric from Alpena Ar.

Comment by Texas HazMat on May 28, 2009 at 8:14am

I believe that it is very important to keep fit and have the proper medical monitoring within your department. In my old department we teamed up with the local university and ran everyone thru a stress test (treadmill), BMI dunk tank, flexibility, doppler to check for hardening or weakening of the arteries, blood work and several other tests.

Each exam took over an hour per person and is still being conducted to this day, that's over 20 years of data. Initially the more senior personnel were reluctant to participate. It was, fortunately mandatory for them. Of the ten most senior four were found to have potentially life treating conditions..ahh that good ole fire house cookin.

The stress test was on the heals of a new fitness program initiated nine months earlier. The key was to have a grading criteria. You were measured on how many push ups, sit ups, run a mile..whatever it is. You must have a means to grade progress. We had several activities you could participate in basketball, tennis, run the track go the the High School Gym or even the Jane Fonda workout tapes. Every quarter there was test and you were graded on Dr. Kennith Coopers (the father of modern aerobics) fitness scale.

This program really did work. It reduced the number of rotund and physically unfit firefighters with in the department. As an extra bonus there have been no heart attacks or pulmonary related deaths within this department.

Comment by fire investigator 21 on May 25, 2009 at 1:33pm

An excellent free resource for firefighter fitness is the National Strength and Conditioning Association website. There are free training videos, Tactical Strength and Conditioning for Firefighters and the Sports Nutrition Education Program.

Comment by steve on April 25, 2009 at 1:23am

two firefighters plus myself are starting the P90X program on Monday. We are all in decent shape but we want to see what the results will be. I will try to keep you all updated.

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