BACKGROUND-The United States Fire Administration announced that 102 firefighters died in the line of duty in 2002 as noted in the Michigan Fire Chiefs Service News. Of those deaths, 31 (30.4%) were related to heart attacks of which 70% were volunteer department personnel. In an interview in the March 2003 Fire Chief Magazine, U.S. Fire Administrator, Mr. R. David Paulison, states that “we loose a firefighter every third day in this country…we lose most firefighters to heart attacks and vehicle accidents. These are two of the most preventable things we have.”
Firefighter health and fitness is of paramount importance to our department. We currently mandate physical examinations for all department s members and provide each member immunizations and periodic health screenings. After discussing the results of said examinations, our membership realized that we were lacking a health and fitness program. As a result, we developed a committee in 2003 to investigate a program for our membership.
After discussing the preliminary results of the committee and evaluating the data as stated by Mr. Paulison our department kicked of a “2003 Wellness & Fitness Grant Committee” with the objective of applying for funds through the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. Our committee met numerous times with a nationally certified Strength and Conditioning Personnel trainer Don Hebert, who is also a full time Firefighter/Paramedic and specializes in developing programs for firefighters and rescue personnel. The committee also met Shane Leto, representative from Life Fitness to review our station and develop an equipment proposal. As our Industrial Health service provider, Port Huron Hospital contributed their policies and recommendations relative to a wellness and fitness program. The committee members developed our grant proposal, which specifically addressed the present and future health and fitness needs of our department membership.
On April 10, 2003 we submitted our application requesting funding for our most valuable resource – our personnel. 19,950 fire departments requested $ 2.5 billion with only $750 million available. 652 departments in MI applied.
On November 14, 2003 we received notification that we had been awarded the grant for $20,712 from the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The award was used for implementation of a health and fitness program for our membership at our station and will be expanded to include surrounding mutual-aid department’s membership in 2nd Quarter of 2004. In access of 400 hours was donated by our department’s 2003 Fire Assistance Grant Committee members to research, investigate, and develop the winning proposal.
Since the notification we met with numerous times with Health and Fitness Experts to insure that we were developing and purchasing equipment which would address the needs of our membership. April 23, 2004 we received our last piece of equipment. In addition to the funds supplied by the grant, our Berlin Fire Department Auxiliary also donated $ 2000 which allowed us to improve both the quantity and safety of the equipment. Two examples are as follows: (a) Original proposal consisted of a bicycle/treadmill for cardiovascular as we ended with an elliptical/treadmill; (b) Increased from a free-weight Olympic machine to a Smith Machine for increased safety. Not only was this change recommended by the Fitness Experts, but also in meetings with St. Clair County Fitness Coordinator.
Fred Eggleton – Certified Personal Trainer, Owner Sculptors Fitness Center, Washington, MI. Telephone (586) 336-0552 has worked with our membership to explain both the correct usage of the equipment and also the health benefits from a program.
Don Hebert, FF/Paramedic Independence Twp Fire Department will also work our membership to update us on prevention of firefighter injuries and benefits of a structured fitness health program.
Watch for more details and photo updates within the next few weeks along with a thank you for all those who contributed.
"Safely, Effiecently, and Effectively Protecting Your Future" -Berlin Township Fire Department Membership