The First Twenty's Blog – August 2015 Archive (3)

Should we link Firefighter fitness to pay, appraisals and continued employment?

We are about to introduce a new fitness standard, and tests, in our Fire and Rescue Service (Fire Department), and after we have established that for 9 months Firefighters pay will be affected by whether they pass the tests or not. Even their continued employment with…

Firefighter Fitness from a New Zealand Firefighter's Perspective

Introduction

As firefighters, we tend to consider ourselves generally fit and healthy individuals capable of carrying out a physically demanding job.  But are we really as fit as we think we are?  Are our bodies really in good enough shape to handle the frenetic pace of the first twenty minutes at a working structure fire; the…

Being in “Shape” is Relative; Being Fit for Duty is not

In this time of fitness fads and trends, I submit to you that in the business of firefighting, there is no room for confusing what is and what is not fit for duty.

Under your turn outs, no one cares if you have six pack abs or biceps like boulders. What the community you swore to serve and what your crew cares about is that you arrive…