1st Due Fit & Firefighter Throwdown Tips for Success.

It’s Monday! The 1st of June, the first day of the week. That is awesome, summer is almost here for some and already here for others. The best part is we are that much closer to the Firefighter Throw down in Atlanta, August 28 & 29th. Did you get registered? Are you ready to throw down?

Regardless if you submitted or not for the throw down, today's tips for success are not for the throw down athletes themselves but the others within the fire service that the athletes work with day in and out. You know, the ones that don't feel they need to be in the best physical shape and condition to perform their jobs. The ones that find every excuses why they can’t take part in physical fitness training. This week’s tips are for them. But I need every one of you that is reading this to make sure you do your part and get them up and off the couch and taking part in this with you leading them.

Get your whole company together, get some "tools" of the trade, Hose rolls, extinguishers, married set, buckets of foam, air packs. Use these "tools" that each member in the fire service is or should be comfortable with and able to handle. If we break things down to the level of working with "tools" that we use on everyday calls we respond to guys are more likely to get involved.

I'm sure everyone that has tried to get that less active member involved in physical fitness training has heard the excuse of, I am not comfortable with weights. I don't know how to use them. I don't want to hurt myself.

We have now solved the excuse game that they have been using. If that less active member is assigned to a unit for that shift he or she should be able to carry a set of irons with an air pack on to a certain distance. Then have them farmers carry two buckets of foam back to the starting point. Have them do some hose roll lifts, throwing ladders to the side of a building with a purpose.

With all of the tools we have that can be used to replace the "Normal Workout Equipment", no replace the excuses of not being comfortable with that equipment, you can get folks active and using equipment they are comfortable with. This is a win win situation. This has worked for myself with less active folks and we slowly work in kettle bells, med balls, and with some we have already made it to an actual loaded barbell.
Everyone has to start somewhere. All of the active folks didn't just start out in the physical fitness state that they are in today. It doesn't matter how long ago it was that you were active, what matters is that you start today with doing something active and make it routine.. This type of training is part of the job.
We in the fire service need to be ready for the unexpected at all times with no excuses.
Think of it in this manner, YOU are an Occupational Athlete and live with the mindset that: "every day is game day, we just don't know what we will be asked to perform or for how long, we have to be ready without any excuses".

Here is an example of a "Tools of the Trade Workout"
Each member will be in a minimum of PT clothes and SCBA up to Full Turn out gear and SCBA.

4 rounds of:
Married set and Hook Carry 25 yards down and back
Battle Hose Slams 15 count. Left arm and right arm slam is equal to 1 rep
Farmers carry two Foam Buckets (Full) 25 yards down and back
Hose Roll Front Shoulder Raises 15 Count. (Chose size hose for proper fitness level)
Tail Board Set Ups. 20 count

You can come up with all different kinds of things to do with the "tools of the trade".

Get creative and let’s get our fellow brothers and sisters involved and active. We have to reduce the number of LODD every year to the preventable issues that are related to cardiovascular issues. 

#noexcuses
J.Brahm
1st Due Fit