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Firefighter Conditioning:
Benefits of Fitness Programs

In general terms, fitness is a feeling of good health or a feeling of being in good "shape."

As a firefighter, fitness helps you endure the long calls that involve a lot of work and helps you recover quickly after the big three-alarm fire so you’re ready for the next one.

Being fit means that you don’t use as much air in your bottle and that you feel light yet strong in full turnout gear.

Other benefits of fitness programs are:

• Reduction in blood pressure
• Increase good (HDL) cholesterol
• Decrease in total cholesterol
• Increase in heart function
• Decrease in body fat
• Increases in aerobic and strength capacity
• Decreased symptoms of anxiety, tension and depression
• Possible reduction in mortality in post-heart attacks patients

Why is fitness important to you?
As a firefighter, given the physical demands and unpredictability of the job, your body has to be ready at a moments notice for every possible situation. Having a high level of fitness means you’re able to perform at multiple scenes without increasing your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Your breathing rate returns to normal quickly after strenuous work, and your heart maintains a more constant rate as opposed to big peaks and valleys. Essentially, your heart, lungs, breathing tubes and blood vessels are efficiently delivering oxygen to the working muscles.

Lactic acid is a waste product in your blood and a limiting factor to your efficiency, which can build up quickly during intense movements and is associated with the "burning" in the muscles that are being used.

For instance, if you are climbing stairs with your gear and tools, your quads (thigh muscles) and calves are going to burn from the lactic acid buildup. A higher level of fitness means that your body will be able to get the lactic acid out of your quads and calves quicker so you can accomplish the task safely and pain free.

Improving your fitness also helps lower your blood pressure, thereby reducing the chances of an on-scene heart attack or even stroke. It also helps to keep our mind fresh, and to enjoy the precious time that we have with our family and friends.

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