The NIST reported that approximately 81,000 firefighters in the United States were injured during 2002 amounting to a national cost of $3-8 billion. Most injuries to firefighters occur on the fire ground. The NFPA estimates that the leading types of injury received during fire ground operations are strains, sprains, and muscular pain (48.2%).

Additionally, the U.S. Fire Administration accounted heart attacks as the leading cause of firefighter fatalities (47%).

What would lower a firefighter’s risk of injury and heart attack? That’s right, it’s common knowledge that FITNESS would lower these risks
tremendously. However, common sense has not solved this problem. The
U.S. Fire Administration had to spell it out in an in-depth study of the
2006 line-of-duty deaths. The study showed that the number one reason
firefighter fitness programs have not worked was the “lack of information on risk to self” and the third reason was “lack of appropriate training”.

The most valid firefighter studies are clearly defining a national problem that affects every one. Surprisingly, there are very few
departments that have truly addressed this issue. It takes a tremendous
amount of work to show clear savings through wellness programs such as WEFIT.
WEFIT is the Orange County Fire Authority’s wellness program that has
proven to lower the risk of injury to firefighters. The program’s
success is largely attributed to its fitness series. The WEFIT study
notes that financial savings resulting from wellness programs generally
occur between three to seven years after the date of implementation.

Firefighters need wellness programs that include personal trainers, diet programs, fitness programs, and stress management initiatives. I
don’t think that anyone who reads the studies mentioned above could
argue against a health program. However, the initial cost of each
individual department creating an extensive fitness program would lead
to one response: “We don’t have the money”. It’s kind of like not paying
for car insurance because “we don’t have the money”. When political
terms last 4 years, it’s hard to justify a program that may take 7 years
to show savings. Ironically, many fire departments truly do not have
the money to lower this $3-8 billion problem.

The start of a realistic solution

Firefighters need access to workout programs that have been proven to increase strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. The program
must show firefighters the difference between being fit and being big.

VS

Workouts should be in a video format that can be shown in any firehouse. Firefighters need the option of having a variety of workouts
that fit their specific needs. The workouts should be entertaining,
educational, motivational, and doable in any firehouse, and… it all
needs to be free.

“lack of appropriate training” say’s it all. Firefighters are dying! Firefighters need a free online
program that includes multiple workouts and fitness plans. The program
needs to clearly identify what it takes to be a fit firefighter. The
free resources that are online are not working. Why? What are they
missing? Why aren’t they reaching firefighters? What is the solution? Is
it crossfit, p-90x, boot camp, yoga? What workouts should all firefighters have free access to?

Within one year, we will have the best workout programs online and free for all firefighters. How will we accomplish this goal? YOU are
going to help! 81,000 firefighters a year are injured. If we can reduce
this number of injuries by just one firefighter, the efforts will be
well worth it. I will be working with a number of fitness professionals
and firefighters to make this happen. Your input is needed.

By Jeremy at Firewhat