A BIG FAT Excuse!

 The last few weeks the national media has jumped on the Obesity in the Fire Service, Being Physically Fit Wagon. I personally think its great and should be published more often until the people that can enforce "THE CHANGE" within the service get on board! One of the main problems with this is that most of the folks that can enforce a CHANGE within the departments across the country are "old school", where Physical Fitness was playing a game or two of Pool while enjoying a few smokes and even a beer in the fire house.

I have personally have done a lot of reading and research on this topic due to the fact that when I first got into the fire service eight years ago I was fat, out of shape , no cardiovascular endurance, no muscle endurance period. I was a walking RISK to myself, family, department and community I was suppose to be serving at any moments notice without any excuses.  No one will make a change in their own life until one of two things happens, 1. they decide its time to stop being selfish and make a change to live a healthy and fit lifestyle that the career/calling REQUIRES. or 2. They are forced by upper management to do #1. or they are OUT.

 Well everyone, including myself at times sits and ask, why don't they just make it that way? Either you step up and do it or go find something else to do for a living. Why? Cause no one wants to be the bad guy!
Everything starts at the top. If the top doesn't support it the bottom is not going to support it. I already touched on the "tops" issues with this subject.
Everyone can agree that the fire service has changed as a whole from the times of playing pool and smoking and drinking in the fire house. So everyone can agree that being in top physical condition should not be that hard to implement and change with the times. Right?

 The fire service as a whole is losing well over fifty plus brothers and sisters to cardiovascular issues every year. WHY ? "Nothing but EXCUSES!" When is the service going to look in the mirror and say hey dummies we can change and prevent this from happening! Why is it that a department will turn the cheek to obesity,out of shape, lazy, selfish members within their department until one of those same people collapses and DIES due to overexertion/cardiovascular issues. Then its time to step up and make a change.
NFPA make recommends for fitness, just like it does R.I.T,Ventilation, Search, Water Supply Standards, etc. But we will drill and pound those into every firefighters head day in day out and we will follow those to a tee. But most departments don't even know the NFPA number that covers physical fitness and health.

More than 70% of domestic firefighters are overweight or obese, a rate slightly higher than the general population, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read that AGAIN

 More than 70% of domestic firefighters are overweight or obese, a rate slightly higher than the general population, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One more Time
 More than 70% of domestic firefighters are overweight or obese, a rate slightly higher than the general population, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WOW! And we are the ones that the public is looking to help them and their families when in need no matter what the case or cause maybe at anytime??

Sounds to me that we the fire service needs help themselves. But we wont deal with this issue until you know what happens. Right?

In the latest article is talks about 70% of firefighters in the county are volunteers. Yes I understand and I was a volunteer before I became paid. It nothing but an EXCUSE! You signed up to be a volunteer, no one is making you do this! If you don't believe of feel you should be in top physical shape you signed up for the wrong thing! This is not about getting a set of bunker gear and flashy lights and a pager and responding to calls and calling yourself a firefighter. Its alot deeper then this! But even as the article states

"Some are worried that if they enforce physical standards they’d lose half their firefighters,”

So my question is, lose them cause you hold them accountable and to a higher standard of health and fitness for their own good as well as the fellow brother/sisters life they fight fire with or their personal family, spouse, children?? Or lose them when they fall out and die or better yet a whole crew passes on your watch on the fire ground cause no one wanted to be the bad guy and implement a change!

I challenge anyone reading this to ask a chief or member of a department that lost a fellow brother or sister due to Obesity, Heart Attack, Cardiovascular Issues , Stress Related they all mean the same in my eyes. If this LODD could have been prevented?
NO EXCUSE!

And for the paid folks, you have NO EXCUSES! most work a 24 hour shift, ok the city guys maybe on 12's. That just shows how much time off you have every week to get into shape. What? Did I just say to be getting in shape when we are off from the fire department?  YES I DID! You can not expect to get into shape and maintain a high level of muscle and cardiovascular endurance and strength by doing a workout once every three days!

You state you are a Professional? You carry yourself as one? You know your job, whats expected of you? Well then be a true professional and step up and make sure your body, mind, heart are ready for the unexpected and anytime.  NO EXCUSES. Cause the guy or gal working next to you your next shift that may have to pull you out doesn't care about your excuses. Nor does that taxpayer that called for help and you never maid it to the call cause of your actions or their lack of, cares about your excuse.

If you feel or think you don't need to be in top physical condition and always improving that state then you made the wrong career choice! PLAN AND SIMPLE! You are an occupational athlete , times have changed, its time you step up and start training and caring for yourself like one.

 I know I need to continue on my own physical condition myself and I work on that 5 to 6 days a week. I have come a long way and no its not easy. Its hard work. Nothing is easy, if it is step it up a notch.
If you really understand the meaning behind all of this, its for a BETTER YOU, and in return it will feed into every other part of your life, Career, family, friends. 

This is not rocket science folks, start doing more then you did yesterday, be active, eat healthy and step up and make a change not an EXCUSE.

If any chief happens to read this, PLEASE it starts with YOU!! Take pride in your men and women and make sure they are becoming physically fit to do this!Does it really matter that the engines are checked off 1st thing in the morning? What if the most important piece of equipment (the firefighters themselves) is not ready, what good is any of the equipment on the engines?  Its not for everyone! It start with YOU! And if you don't start to change it, you are just as at fault!

Now its time to go TRAIN myself to be ready for the unexpected.

J.Brahm
1stduefit.com


***Photo by: Paul Combs***