When I was hired by the first Department that I worked for I had 28% body fat, barely ran, and was 23 years old. I knew when I had my first physical, something had to change. Once I had completed recruit school, that change had been made, I had begun a regular workout regimen. I had been challenged to my limts during those weeks and I became physiclaly and mentally tougher, but never did I think that I would do some of the things I have done since then.
As I began working out regularly, I saw the benefits of it as I began to feel better, eat (at times) better, and of course the important part for so many, look better. I began weight training and running regularly and saw my abilities as a fire fighter increase exponentially. When I was hired by my present department, I was pushed even closer to my limits, but now it wasn't a struggle, it was fun. Then I really messed up, I entered a race. This is where my working out took a turn, I began to have goals for each day, not just going to the gym and aimlessly lifting. Since that point I have run numerous 5K's, 10K's and I have even completed 5 half marathons and 2 full marathons. I think I have finally found my limit, I think 26.2 is it for me, but for some reason in the back of my head I want to do an ironman. Time will only tell.
Another goal of all of this working out is to survive through retirement. Too many firefighters sit around the firehouse and continuously say "Man I hope I make it to retirement". This is a great goal, but lets push our own limits and say instead: "I hope I survive through retirement". I will have worked 25 years whe I can retire and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let my wife have all of the fun with that retirement money. We all know that every one of us is at an elevated risk for cancers of all kinds, arthritis, sleeping disordersetc. based on the wear and tear a career in the fire service has on a person. Do we just think that if we eat, sleep, and watch TV for 25 years that god with grace us with an extra few years? Yeah sure guys who run and workout all the time die at 45 or 50 but give yourself a chance.
I spoke with a physiologist at a PPE symposium and he made a statement regarding those who say "Why work out so and so died at 45 and he worked out every day". He told me that if you are in better cardiovascular shape then your body requires less oxygen to function, so if you have a heart attack than you stand a much better chance of survival with full recovery. Sometimes no matter how good of shape you are in, it is your time, but why not prepare yourself to survive such an event. The tremendous stress that our work enviroment places us under places us in so many risk categories, so why not prepare yourself to combat those inherent risks?
I recommend that each of you read the Indianapolis Physiology study done by Indiana University and the IFD. Some of the findings are terrifying. The IFD embedded researchers with firefighters for shifts at a time and monitored their bodies before, during, and after calls. If you haven't read it click on the link below and read at least the highlights of it.
http://www.indiana.edu/~firefit/pdf/Final%20Report.pdf
Our goal everyday we go to work should be to survive through retirement not just to it. Physically prepare yourself by doing something involving physical fitness every shift, to prepare yourself for the inherent challenges of our job. Walk on the treadmill, walk the block around the station....something to make you a better public servant to the citizens you serve. Doing this will allow you to travel with you family and enjoy one of the best benefits of our job....Retirement. Until the next time, stay safe and stay trained.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Asheville LODD
As all of you should be aware on Thursday, we all lost a brother firefighter and a family lost a husband, Father and friend. Captain Jeffrey Bowen of Rescue 3 in Asheville was killed tragically at a working fire at an office building in the hospital district of town. I also just confirmed that he was an alumni of the Fayetteville State Fire Science program where I am a professor. I had him as a student in at least one class so this one hits too close for comfort. Everytime there is an LODD, I always pause to think about the tragedy, and I immediately become curious as to what happened. I always want to learn from it, especially as a company officer so that I don't ever have to experience an LODD first hand.
It is always easy to Monday morning quarterback fires especially from 2 hours away or across the country even, but that's not what this post is about. The radio traffic from the fire has circulated the internet and I am even using it for training at my station today. This audio allows us to identify OUR own shortcomings when it comes to OUR department not the one involved in the tragedy. Do you know how to call a Mayday? What are your department's parameters for a Mayday? How do you carry out a search of a large office building that is unsprinklered? How proficient are you with standpipe operations and the deployment of hose in a high rise or mid rise enviroment?
If more of us focused on how we could be placed in the same situtation in our own department, rather than cast blame on the affected department after hearing fireground audio and seeing a 2 minute video we would all be safer. I challenge you to examine this tragedy by looking at how you would approach the same situation in your own department not cast blame on anyone. This is how we can honor Captain Bowen and the others injured at the fire. He would want us to learn from the tragedy and to prevent it from happening anywhere else, because in our line of work we all too often have the "It can't happen here" attitude. However, we all know that when all the cards are dealt, it can happen anywhere to anyone, we just have to limit our opportunity for it to happen to us. Please honor Captain Bowen by going over your Mayday procedures, High/Mid rise tactics, and Search procedures to ensure we all gain knowledge out of this tragedy.
Until the next post:
Stay Safe and Stay Trained
Jonah
It is always easy to Monday morning quarterback fires especially from 2 hours away or across the country even, but that's not what this post is about. The radio traffic from the fire has circulated the internet and I am even using it for training at my station today. This audio allows us to identify OUR own shortcomings when it comes to OUR department not the one involved in the tragedy. Do you know how to call a Mayday? What are your department's parameters for a Mayday? How do you carry out a search of a large office building that is unsprinklered? How proficient are you with standpipe operations and the deployment of hose in a high rise or mid rise enviroment?
If more of us focused on how we could be placed in the same situtation in our own department, rather than cast blame on the affected department after hearing fireground audio and seeing a 2 minute video we would all be safer. I challenge you to examine this tragedy by looking at how you would approach the same situation in your own department not cast blame on anyone. This is how we can honor Captain Bowen and the others injured at the fire. He would want us to learn from the tragedy and to prevent it from happening anywhere else, because in our line of work we all too often have the "It can't happen here" attitude. However, we all know that when all the cards are dealt, it can happen anywhere to anyone, we just have to limit our opportunity for it to happen to us. Please honor Captain Bowen by going over your Mayday procedures, High/Mid rise tactics, and Search procedures to ensure we all gain knowledge out of this tragedy.
Until the next post:
Stay Safe and Stay Trained
Jonah
Saturday, July 23, 2011
The First Post
Well, I guess like every other member of my generation I am slowly falling victim to the internet trap called a blog.......I started this blog to add another resource to the many that are already out there for the fire service. My focus will start on health, wellness, and safety all passions of mine when it comes to our job. I feel like these topics cause more problems and arguments with many in our profession than they truly should. We all want to be aggressive firefighters, but we can't do it the way they used to in the old days. Many fail to realize this and attempt to teach the young firefighters how they need to do it.....
Now don't jump on me about not liking fire service tradition, because I am a true believer in that, but let's keep the traditions that are positive around. Let's leave behind the carcinogen covered gear and helmets that scream "Look at me I stand up when its way too hot" and "I think I'm a bad ass because my gear hasn't been washed since I got it". Let's leave behind the "We don't need physicals" and the "Who needs to work out?" and bring with us the selfless nature of the true firefighter. The bravery and the respect for the profession, the public, and the firefighters that got us where we are today. we should continue the "ball busting", the "probie period", and the continuous rounds of practical jokes. We can't ever forget that our job is fun, that's why we do it. If we can just begin to change our culture when it comes to safety we will move forward everyday.
You say safety and most firefighters immediately use some derogatory words soon after. Yeah, safety can interfere with what we want to do, but doesn't that word get us home to the people that matter to us? Safety doesn't mean standing outside of fires, or wearing a complete body reflective suit, it means making calculated risks and operating properly and consciously on emergency scenes. Many take safety too far and handcuff guys and girls on scenes to the point where they can't act as firefighters should. The right blend of aggressiveness and safety saves victims of emergencies and gets us all home the next day.
Well, that's my first stab at it, hopefully it won't be my last..........Stay safe and stay trained.
Jonah
Now don't jump on me about not liking fire service tradition, because I am a true believer in that, but let's keep the traditions that are positive around. Let's leave behind the carcinogen covered gear and helmets that scream "Look at me I stand up when its way too hot" and "I think I'm a bad ass because my gear hasn't been washed since I got it". Let's leave behind the "We don't need physicals" and the "Who needs to work out?" and bring with us the selfless nature of the true firefighter. The bravery and the respect for the profession, the public, and the firefighters that got us where we are today. we should continue the "ball busting", the "probie period", and the continuous rounds of practical jokes. We can't ever forget that our job is fun, that's why we do it. If we can just begin to change our culture when it comes to safety we will move forward everyday.
You say safety and most firefighters immediately use some derogatory words soon after. Yeah, safety can interfere with what we want to do, but doesn't that word get us home to the people that matter to us? Safety doesn't mean standing outside of fires, or wearing a complete body reflective suit, it means making calculated risks and operating properly and consciously on emergency scenes. Many take safety too far and handcuff guys and girls on scenes to the point where they can't act as firefighters should. The right blend of aggressiveness and safety saves victims of emergencies and gets us all home the next day.
Well, that's my first stab at it, hopefully it won't be my last..........Stay safe and stay trained.
Jonah
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