HEARING, BUT NOT LISTENING

Comment

Comment by Christopher Huston on May 8, 2012 at 5:49am

Thanks for the great visual aid for those of us on this "war path." Have we been too soft or trying to do it in a nice political way? What else can we do? A few classes I have taught, I asked family to attend. I hoped that by touching the family with LODD/Health/Fitness stats and info, maybe the family could influence them. The very small number of spouses that have attended are astounded by how many LODD's we have.

It is time to hit them where it hurts...reach out to their families.

Comment by John Carder on May 7, 2012 at 10:53pm

The first BOD meeting I ever went to (about seven years ago) was prompted by an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine that urged fire departments to have fitness programs. I was just trying to get us access to a gym.

The NEJM is still writing about the problem:http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa060357
"Heart disease causes 45% of the deaths that occur among U.S. firefighters while they are on duty. "

Comment by David "Dewey" Atkocaitis on May 7, 2012 at 10:26pm

Thank you Paul, Im glad you have brought the problem to light, I was one of those guys and it took a lot to finally make a choice to change that, and Im so glad I did, I want other guys to know its a difficult position to be in and a very hard decision to have WLS, but its one Ive been blessed with, Its still a daily struggle, and I battle everyday but I have kept my weight down, Im still a bigger guy and I will always be but I'm much healthier and much more active, Im proud that Ive been able to use my experience with WLS to share with other brothers and sisters that there are other options once you've lost control and need that tool in the tool box, but its not an end all cure all its a tool just like a set of irons...I also agree that the industry sets standards for health and safety yet our manufacturers will make the larger and larger turn out gear...I'm not saying WLS is for everyone, and its about being healthy and taking control for ones health and wellness...I still struggle and after reading today reached out to guys in my house that are good with fitness and nutrition to help me, to get back into a better way of life to be even healthier to hopefully loose the last 50 I've got to loose, and they gladly said yes, well do it together....please from one of those former guys to my bigger brothers....please take a serious look and reach out, get healthy life is so much better, I look at my 3 kids and my wife and thank the lord for that second chance make today the day you choose....

Comment by Paul Combs on May 7, 2012 at 5:47pm

Frank, I think most of us have struggled with weight at some point - it's just too easy go off course with the abundance of fat and sugar rich food options. The difference is we do something about it to improve our condition and health.

Comment by Paul Combs on May 7, 2012 at 1:28pm

Thanks for jumping into the conversation, Chief!

Comment by John K. Murphy on May 7, 2012 at 12:47pm

Paul - noticed the same thing - why are we selling 3 - 6X T shirts at these events. Can you be obese and healthy? Seems like an oxymoron but the medical evidence is overwhelming in favor of leaner firefighters and in the general population as well. The predominant cause of LODD's over the past 10 years has been cardiovascular events or strokes; the message of a healthier lifestyle is falling of deaf ears. I have been an advocate of fitness and regular medical checkups. NFPA 1582, Section 6 is a good place to start for initial and recurrent medical physicals. The Peer Fitness Programs are great for your departments as well. Fire Departments need to have a department physician in their community who knows what we do for a living and the physical demands placed on the firefighters during a working alarm. They are a great impartial resource for the firefighters and the departments.  We also should implement a fitness standard across the fire service industry that calls for annual medical and fitness evaluations and if you cannot perform those essential functions of the job and pass a medical physical, have a period of remediation. If you still cannot perform then you need to seek alternative work. This applies to both volunteer and career firefighters - there is no excuse for departments to shirk their responsibility. Do skinny and "fit" people die? Certainly they do, but the added weight places an inordinate strain on your system and soon, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes will be a part of your life. Obese firefighters also place a burden on your brother and sister firefighters when you go down at the scene of an emergency. The resuscitation statistics do not favor you in this situation. Paul, you are right on with this illustration.  Thanks for taking the "heat" on this one.

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