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Metro Fire recognizes that firefighting can be a
hazardous occupation, and is committed to minimizing the risk to its most
valuable asset: its employees.
A healthy and physically fit firefighter is not only
superior in job performance, but also enjoys a reduced risk of suffering
from many of the cumulative ills that are so prevalent in society as a
whole, and the fire service in particular. A firefighter’s ultimate
career success is achieved when he or she retires with the vitality to
fully enjoy retirement.
Metro Fire is in the process of developing a
comprehensive Health and Fitness Program. The basis of this program is
from “The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness
Initiative”. This initiative is founded on the concept of providing a
positive, educational, and non-punitive health and fitness program. Metro
Fire’s Program currently consists of components in three broad categories:
Training/Instruction, Assessment, and Intervention/Prescription
Training/Instruction
Training and Instruction comprises the content and methods of imparting
Health and Fitness information to the employees of the Sacramento
Metropolitan Fire District. With over 650 employees stationed at some 45
sites, the challenges of successfully and efficiently conveying important
information is apparent. A variety of methods have been developed to
overcome these challenges:
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Personal Visits: Scheduled visits for one-on-one
training or instruction. The interaction can take place at any mutually
agreeable location, but frequently occurs at a station or work site. It is
important to know in advance the topic of discussion so you can arrive
prepared.
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Station Visits: Impromptu visits with the purpose of
conveying informal information, or for information gathering. A phone
call prior to arriving, to inform the Officer of the Day of your
intentions, is considered proper courtesy. Station Visits can be used for
brief follow-up on an individuals exercise program, to inventory or check
on the status of exercise equipment, or just simply to stop and say hello
and ask if anyone has any questions or needs.
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Station Drills: Drills that are scheduled in advance
for a specific purpose and directed to the entire shift. Station
Drills may include a didactic and/or interactive presentation on a
specific topic. Topics may include: instruction in the proper use of
in-station exercise equipment; circuit strength training ideas, designing
a comprehensive conditioning program, nutrition for the fire service,
injury prevention, heart disease risk factor reduction, etc.
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Multi-Company Drills: These drills are for
completing an important district-wide project in a relatively short time
frame. The primary application is the semi-annual fitness assessments
(see Assessment).
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Monthly Newsletters: The “Metro Fitness Flyer” is a
newsletter that is produced monthly and distributed to each station. The
newsletter’s intent is to share and convey district and fire service
specific Health and Fitness information. A more general Health and
Fitness publication, “The Body Bulletin”, is produced by a third party and
also distributed monthly with the Training Packet.
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Monthly Videos: A Health and Fitness video segment
is produced monthly and distributed within the Monthly Training Division
video. The content of the video can vary across the spectrum of health
and fitness, however it should be limited to 5 minutes or less. The
purpose of this video segment is to impart information that is of interest
to a large audience, and to keep the Health and Fitness program as visual
as possible.
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E-Mail: E-mail messages are used to reach an
individual, a group of individuals, or the district as a whole. When
communicating with the entire district, it is important to provide
information that is of interest to the majority of the audience.
Furthermore, communications should be no more frequent than once or twice
per month to increase the impact of each message.
- Los Rios College
Course: Metro Fire is producing a course entitled “Physical Fitness
for the Fire Service.” This course provides fire suppression personnel
with the essential information to improve their health, and to encourage
habits intended to enhance physical fitness and functional abilities.
This course is taught using video lectures to allow study while on
shift. The course includes extensive laboratory sessions in the
exercise gym.
- Injury Prevention
Programs: One of the important benefits of healthy and physically
fit firefighters is a reduced risk of musculoskeletal injury. However,
additional programs targeted specifically to this goal are of value.
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Injury to Recovery Program: When an employee sustains
a documented sprain or strain type injury, he or she is provided with a
letter inviting them to contact the Health and Fitness Program Manager.
The purpose of this contact is to provide the individual with injury
prevention guidance, and specific reconditioning ideas as appropriate.
The goal is to facilitate the individual’s short and long term success in
returning to full duty.
- In-Station
Posters: Station fitness areas provide an opportunity to convey
additional health and fitness information through visual aids. The
Health and Fitness Program occasionally supplies appropriate posters for
this purpose.
Assessment
Assessment comprises the content and methods of evaluating the health and
fitness of individual employees, and the district as a whole.
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Individual Fitness Assessments: This type of
assessment is performed upon the request of an individual, and can be
ordered for a variety of reasons. The assessment is typically performed
at the individual’s workplace during on-shift hours. The assessment can
be a comprehensive fitness assessment, or simply an evaluation of one
component of fitness, depending on the desires of the individual. The
flexibility of an individual assessment allows the evaluator to tailor the
assessment to the specific needs of the individual, facilitating the
design of a successful exercise prescription.
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Multi-Company Fitness Assessments: These assessments
are scheduled twice annually, with the purpose of allowing each
participant an opportunity to quantify their fitness level. However, the
assessments themselves provide motivation for individuals to maintain and
improve their fitness throughout the year. The scheduling is a
multi-company drill format, typically held at two locations over six
days. Following the completion of these assessments, and within six
weeks, each participant is provided a personal report of their results,
with suggestions for improvement as appropriate.
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Recruit Academy Fitness Assessments: Firefighter
recruits are evaluated for their fitness capacities upon admission, and at
discharge of the academy. The protocol for these assessments varies from
the multi-company fitness assessments in that additional time and
infrastructure is available for a more comprehensive evaluation. At the
completion of the initial assessment, each recruit is counseled one-on-one
regarding their individual strengths and weaknesses, with specific
expectations for progress made.
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Paramedic Intern Fitness Assessments: Paramedic
Interns are evaluated for their fitness capacities at the beginning of
their program, and at 4-month intervals throughout. The testing protocol
is the same as that for the recruit academy.
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Probationary Firefighter Fitness Assessments:
Probationary firefighters are expected to maintain a high level of
physical fitness throughout their probationary period. A fitness
assessment is a part of their 4, 8, and 12 month probationary review. The
testing protocol for this assessment is a condensed, one-hour version of
their final recruit academy assessment.
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Dietary Record: A 3-day dietary record of food
consumption can assist in the assessment of an individual’s nutritional
habits. This tool is used primarily for education and awareness, however
when used in conjunction with a consultation from a registered dietician,
can be an important tool for formal dietary intervention.
Intervention/Prescription
Intervention/Prescription comprise the content and methods of providing
programs and activities to improve the health and fitness of Metro
employees.
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One Hour Exercise Session: Metro Fire has made an
important commitment to the fitness of fire suppression personnel: One
hour of a 24-hour shift is provided for fitness exercise. This is a
voluntary offering and is to be coordinated with the company officer.
Additionally, Metro Fire has provided an array of exercise equipment at
all appropriate fire stations to facilitate this training.
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Individual Exercise Prescription: An exercise
prescription is a standard method of providing individualized exercise
guidance. It follows the completion of an appropriate exercise/fitness
assessment. Metro employees can request an individual exercise
prescription of the Health and Fitness Program Manager that is based on a
fitness assessment, and personalized to their needs and/or goals.
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Group Exercise Instruction: Metro Fire Companies,
and Metro Support Departments can request group exercise instruction and
guidance from the Health and Fitness Program Manager. This is often
performed as a scheduled station drill, or during department meetings.
Examples of effective group instruction include company circuit training
routines, group stretching exercises, and occasionally, alternative
workout instruction at a park or school track in a companies first-in
area.
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Recruit Academy Fitness Program: Firefighting is a
demanding occupation. In order to successfully meet and exceed the
physical and mental demands of the job, it is imperative that fire fighter
recruits attain the capacities to meet this challenge. Similarly, it is
imperative that the recruit academy fitness program also instill the
knowledge, skill, and desire for each recruit to maintain and improve
their health and fitness throughout their career. During the 15 week
academy, the Health and Fitness Program Manager becomes “Coach”, and
provides a comprehensive daily physical fitness training program.
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Paramedic Intern Fitness Program: Metro Fire
provides paramedic training, and a paramedic internship program for
potential Metro Fire paramedic/firefighters. During this approximately 14
month program, a two day per week health and fitness program is scheduled
with the goal to increase fitness levels to that required of a
firefighter, and to instill the principles necessary for a career of
health and fitness.
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Fitness E-Mail List:
All employees of Metro Fire are invited to
join a fitness e-mail list. Those
individuals who join the "list" will receive e-mail information from
fellow list members pertaining to fitness events, work-outs, bike rides,
running races, etc. The purpose is to provide a variety of opportunities
to encourage fitness and fun for Metro employees and their families.
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