By BECKY PURSER
Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
With sudden cardiac death the leading cause of on-duty fatalities among firefighters, some fire departments are adopting mandatory physical fitness programs.
In Warner Robins, each new fire station is built with an exercise room. The first of the new stations on Houston Road has been up and running since June, and two other stations are under construction.
Each fire station, whether new or older, includes exercise machines designed for strength and cardiovascular training. Every firefighter is allowed time on duty to work out. And the workout is logged.
Warner Robins Fire Chief Robert Singletary said firefighters owe it to citizens, fellow firefighters and to themselves to be physically fit.
“My objective is for everyone in the fire department to retire healthy,” Singletary said.
The department’s wellness program also includes medical physicals on a routine basis and agility tests.
In Perry, Fire Chief Eddie Howell encourages firefighters to join a local gym. Howell said he can’t require firefighters to join the gym because the city doesn’t pay for the memberships, but he does require those who don’t join to complete an hour of physical activity while on duty.
All firefighters are issued department sweat pants, shorts and T-shirts for whatever exercise they choose, whether working out at the gym, walking around the station or playing basketball, Howell said.
Perry firefighters also undergo a semi-annual physical agility test in which firefighters in full turnout gear carry heavy water hoses up stairs in less than 8 seconds, he said.
The nature of the job requires firefighters to be physically fit enough to pull someone out of a burning building, Howell said. Although the gear over the years has gotten lighter, the hoses have become heavier and more equipment is carried to the scene, he said.
Houston County Fire Chief Jimmy Williams said it’s harder for agencies such as his to mandate physical fitness beyond the state’s required training because most of the firefighters are volunteers.
But county firefighters may take advantage of membership at a local gym offered at a reduced rate to all county employees, he said.
In the new Peach County fire station, now in the planning stages, Chief Jeff Doles hopes to include an exercise room if funds are available.
He said firefighters undergo mandated physical agility tests twice a year but are not required to partake in any type of exercise program.
“When you pay someone to do a job you can require more of them than volunteers,” Doles said.
Fort Valley Fire Chief Otis Daniel said the city pays for its employees to have membership at a local gym. Daniel said his firefighters aren’t required to work out at the gym but he strongly encourages it.
Fort Valley firefighters, police and public works employees first requested that the city pay for physical fitness training, and city officials thought it was a good idea to expand the opportunity of a gym membership to all employees, Daniel said.
The gym membership, which began in October, is on a six-month trial basis to see if city employees will take advantage of it, the Fort Valley fire chief said.
Byron Fire Chief James Keys said his all-volunteer force is not required to take any additional physical fitness training other than that required by the state. Volunteers already squeeze in mandatory firefighter training in between family life and after working all day.
“We just try to take care of ourselves,” Keys said.
Rita F. Fahy, of the National Fire Protection Service’s fire analysis and research division, said heart attacks remain the leading cause of death each year for on-duty firefighters.
According to an NFPS study, almost half the firefighters who died on duty from 1995 to 2004 suffered heart attacks. And nearly half of those the fatalities who had documented medical conditions had known heart problems.
As a result, the firefighters association recommends annual medical evaluations, screening and exercise stress tests for coronary artery disease risk factors and appropriate treatment and restrictions for firefighters with heart problems.
Also recommended are fitness and wellness programs, Fahy said, as well as management of controllable risk factors - such as not smoking and watching one’s weight.
“It all comes back to fitness, medical study and risk factors,” Fahy said.