Firefighter Fitness: A Health & Wellness Guide

This book highlights fire-fighting as one of the nations most dangerous and hazardous jobs, with heart attacks, high physical stress levels, sprains, and strains all too common. Of all fire-fighters in the United States, 72 percent are volunteers. The leading cause of on-duty death among volunteers is heart attack. The leading cause of injuries for all fire-fighters is overexertion and strain. The prevalence of cardiovascular illness and deaths and work-inhibiting strains and sprains among fire-fighters illustrates the need for a comprehensive health and wellness program in every department. To address the issues specific to volunteers, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) developed this guide to health and wellness for volunteer departments and members. In 2003, the NVFC launched the ground breaking Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program specifically to address heart disease in the fire and emergency services. This awareness and prevention campaign targets all fire-fighters and emergency personnel -- both volunteer and career. This is an edited, excerpted and augmented edition of a U.S. Fire Administration publication.