Author: Conner Terrance O'Halloran
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 54
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Book Description
The focus of this research is to explore reasons why these highly recommended wellness programs are not established. Successful establishment of a wellness program requires understanding why this fire department is hesitant or unsuccessful in implementing and maintaining a wellness program.
Author: Jillian Harrington
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 143
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Book Description
Firefighter wellness has become a concern across the country, in large part because a combination of poor fitness levels, excess weight, and a high-intensity work environment contributes to chronic illness as well as line-of-duty deaths. Workplace wellness programs are effective in career fire service organizations, but nationwide implementation rates are low. This exploratory qualitative study examined the barriers to implementation in small to midsized/large career fire service organizations in the United States to develop a set of best practice recommendations for organizations to use in overcoming those barriers. Using a semistructured interview format, 18 fire service leaders from eight different organizations across the United States were interviewed. Results revealed themes involving barriers in the categories of buy-in, financial matters, leadership support, and labor management, suggesting the need for best practices in program planning, program choice, buy-in, finance, leadership, and labor management. Understanding the barriers of wellness program implementation in fire stations could empower fire department leadership to overcome these impediments and implement or maintain an effective wellness program. Future research should focus on analysis of implementation barriers in larger departments, studying firefighters’ perceptions of barriers to implementation, or examining the use of specific implementation tactics in a single department.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fire fighters
Languages : en
Pages : 104
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Book Description
From Book's Introduction: Firefighting continues to be one of the nation's most dangerous and hazardous jobs with heart attacks, high physical stress levels, and sprains and strains all too common. In the past five years, the fire service has focused its attention on overcoming these issues by working to change the service's culture. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has spent much time redeveloping and revamping their health and wellness standards, while career departments have been working with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) on a wellness initiative that began in 1997. Volunteer personnel also face similar risks when it comes to health and wellness. The nature of member time constraints and tight departmental budgets in the volunteer service often inhibits the creation of comprehensive health and wellness programs. Implementing a comprehensive health and wellness program could overwhelm the resources of many volunteer departments. Time, lack of program leadership, and insufficient funding pose serious challenges to most departments, which often struggle to deliver basic fire suppression capabilities. This guide provides the rationale and suggestions for successfully implementing a health and wellness program volunteer service. It also addresses many common roadblocks.
Author: Karen F. Deppa
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319387790
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 85
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Book Description
Developing resilience skills has the potential to shield firefighters and other emergency responders from the negative effects of stressful incidents and situations. Drawing on cutting-edge research, this SpringerBrief proposes strategies to prevent firefighter behavioral health issues using the proactive approach of resilience training. Further, resilience training aims to develop mental toughness and support overall well-being in all facets of the responder’s life. This book emphasizes lessons and research from Positive Psychology. A new branch in the science of how the mind operates, Positive Psychology focuses on developing emotional wellness and preventing behavioral health problems. It does so in part by teaching habits and skills that promote self-efficacy, social support, and realistic optimistic thinking. The program outlined in this book supplements current approaches addressing emotional and behavioral health problems that afflict the emergency response community. Such problems include PTSD, anxiety, burnout, alcoholism, depression, and suicide. The authors present interventions and measures for resilience training backed by research and demonstrated results within education, the military, and other communities. Drawing on her more than 25 years’ experience in working with fire service representatives at all levels, Ms. Deppa understands the importance of considering the fire service culture. Dr. Saltzberg, a practicing psychologist, has taught resilience skills to a wide range of populations, including students, teachers, counselors, and U.S. Army officers. Together, they present a compelling approach to preventing behavioral health problems before they occur.
Author: Ryan Devine
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 153
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Book Description
Health promotion programs are becoming increasingly popular throughout the private sector. The return on investment averages between $3 - $6 for every dollar spent on program costs. Despite this, implementation has lagged among career fire departments. This study examines the barriers that exist in implementing fire department fitness and wellness programs. This quantitative research project utilizes a survey conducted on a major, career department located in the Northeastern US. The goal of the survey is to better understand/predict firefighter motivations and willingness in order to promote fitness and wellness programs. The survey focuses on barriers towards cooperation and how impacts of demographics (age groups/time on job/current health perception) affects responses. Finally, the survey concludes with a list of incentives that increase in value/cost in order to determine willingness of accepting a program if it were voluntary, non-punitive, with age-based fitness goals. Variables include three main groups; older and younger firefighters, those with more/less years on the job and those with higher and lower fitness levels. The survey examines fitness motivation in fourteen distinct categories and an exercise causality index (determining how individuals are orientated to exercise). The survey concludes with incentives and program offerings to determine preferences by department, by groups or individuals. This research determined that younger firefighters and those with fewer years on the job are more willing to accept health promotion programs than older members. Motivation levels decrease in nearly every category for older members. Those with lower fitness scores are also less willing to accept a comprehensive program. Despite this, nearly all ages and demographics understand the importance of firefighters maintaining a high level of fitness and wellness. This survey has proved to be helpful in understanding the demographics of a particular department, understanding likes/dislikes, strengths and weaknesses in order to design and implement a program that has the best chance of being accepted by the majority and that has the best chance of lasting long term.
Author: John Hofman, Jr.
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781478178965
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Book Description
Firefighting places a high amount of mental and physical stress on firefighters. Because these demands are so high, many fire recruit entering into a fire academy are often selected for their above-average physical fitness. Studies have shown that high levels of of cardiovascular training, resistance training, and flexibility will reduce the risks and allow firefighters to perform their skills in a safe and effective manner. This comprehensive manual is designed to cover all the risks associated with fire suppression. Everything from low back pain to nutrition to how to create a comprehensive health and wellness program is covered within this manual.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 55
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Book Description
The US Air Force is the Executive Agent for the firefighter fitness programs for all military components. This Review & Analysis examines four suggested candidate firefighter physical fitness programs and related research in support of the ongoing Air Force/Department of Defense project to adopt a defensible and acceptable firefighter fitness training and testing program. The four programs that are compared and contrasted are the interim Air Force/Department of Defense Fire Protection Program's Fire Fighter Physical Fitness Program, the Canadian Forces/Department of National Defence's new Fire Fighter Physical Fitness Maintenance Program, the emerging International Association of Fire Fighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative (IAFF/FC Initiative), and the National Fire Protection Association's work-in-progress, NFPA 1583.
Author: Brittany Sara Hollerbach
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
Background: Firefighting is a dangerous occupation, with high rates of line-of-duty injuries and fatalities as well as a high number of related psychological and physical health concerns. Poor health and low levels of firefighter (FF) fitness have significant economic costs for the individual, the fire department, and the public. Though FF fitness and injuries have been studied extensively among men in the fire service, research among recruits and women FFs is lacking. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine exercise training among recruits in the fire service as well as the perceptions, experiences, rates, types, and predictors of injuries among career women FFs. Methods: This dissertation is composed of three different studies. The first was a pilot 10-week randomized trial of a novel exercise intervention, The First Twenty High-Performance Training Program (TF20), with fire academy recruits. Second, we qualitatively examined injury perceptions among women FFs via focus groups and key informant interviews. Last, a cross-sectional study used snowball sampling to solicit participation from women career FFs; participants completed an online survey regarding occupational injuries, which were compared to those of men in the fire service, with a specific focus on behavioral health predictors of injury. Results: The pilot investigation was the first to examine TF20 among fire service recruits and found that recruits did not meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) physical fitness standards at baseline but did show improvements in body composition, muscular strength, agility, and aerobic capacity after the 10-week intervention. After examining fire recruits, interest in the lack of representation of women FFs arose, and the further investigations examined this "hidden population." First, after examining women FFs' perceptions and attitudes related to injury in the fire service, participants identified six key themes: the impact of working in a male-dominated field; harassment; the similar rates/types of injury among men FFs; inadequate training; ill-fitting protective gear; and functional techniques/endurance related to injury in the fire service. This qualitative analysis led to a quantitative examination of injury among women FFs. Several behavioral health predictors including exercise habits, being a former or current smoker, depression, and job dissatisfaction were statistically significant predictors of injury. Conclusions: Our data show that FFs, even new recruits, struggle with low levels of fitness. We also found that women experience similar rates and types of injury as their male counterparts, though their experiences with injury differ (e.g., they experience more chronic injuries, injuries related to discrimination and harassment, differing predictors of injury, and more missed days due to injury). Research among women FFs has shown that a lack of data negatively impacts recruitment and retention in the fire service. The combined information from these studies can help inform policy and training to address preliminary fitness training and injury prevention in the fire service to better protect all FFs.
Author: Jon Pearson
Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 9780471287094
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 368
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Book Description
The life-threatening risks that fire service personnel face are taxing both physically and mentally. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel have a higher rate of heart disease, lung disease, cancer, substance abuse problems, and injuries than the general population. Studies show that high levels of cardiovascualr conditioning, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility allow firefighters to perform their jobs safely and more effectively. Now, fire and rescue workers can turn to Comprehensive Wellness for Firefighters for all the information they need to evaluate and improve their personal lifestyles. This uniquely accessible book focuses on self-assessment methods and action planning procedures that emphasize personal responsibility for good health and enable readers to apply the information to their own lives. In addition to the personal health evaluations, sample workout routines, and instructive exercise programs, the authors integrate materials essential for total health including information on diet and nutrition, drug and alcohol issues, and critical incident stress management techniques. By using this book, readers will be able to effectively: -Evaluate their current level of physical fitness in order to monitor their future progress -Select exercise options that best meet their preferences, needs, and objectives -Develop strategies and personal action plans that promote and improve total health and fitness -Adopt a long-term commitment to a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle Designed as a valuable resource and practical guide, Comprehensive Wellness for Firefighters not only attempts to minimize risk in an inherently hazardous line of work, but also promotes behavior and attitudes that contribute to long-term health and well-being.
Author: Jim Moss
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780990844242
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 320
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Book Description
Firefighter Functional Fitness is the essential guide to optimal firefighter performance and longevity. It provides all firefighters with the knowledge, mindset, and tools to:Maximize their fire ground performance Reduce their risk of injury and experiencing a line-of-duty deathLive a long, healthy career and retirementDesigned for firefighters by firefighters, this book shares the The 4 Pillars of Firefighter Functional Fitness: Physical FitnessRecovery and RestHydrationNutrition and LifestyleIt also reveals the The Big 8 concept, which includes over 100 photos and descriptions of functional exercises, movements, and stretches that are specifically designed to enhance firefighter performance. The Workout Programming chapter gives firefighters numerous options for putting The Big 8 into action, taking into account all levels of fitness. Additionally, each chapter provides practical action steps for both immediate improvement and long-term success.Must-read bonus chapters include:The Importance of Annual Medical EvaluationsAn Analysis of the Fire Service's Cardiovascular EpidemicFirefighter Physical Agility AssessmentsAddressing Organizational Barriers to FitnessFrequently Asked QuestionsAlarmingly, over the past 10 years, the fire service has suffered more than 1,000 line-of-duty deaths. Unfortunately, over 50% of these LODDs were attributed to heart attacks, strokes, and other medical causes. Firefighter Functional Fitness attacks these statistics by providing all firefighters with the tools needed to combat this epidemic.Firefighter Functional Fitness brings together the authors' combined 40+ years of fire service experience and decades of utilizing functional fitness principles. The result is an invaluable resource with the vital tools and knowledge that firefighters desperately need to not only enjoy a healthy and productive career, but also benefit with a healthy retirement.
