Firefighters face numerous health and wellness challenges: heart disease, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, obesity, and low fitness levels. Exercise can help combat these issues.
However, staying motivated to exercise can be a challenge for firefighters. Group-based training sessions can improve exercise adherence and create a sense of camaraderie.
Strength Training
So how do I become a firefighter in Texas? Firefighters must be able to carry heavy equipment like ladders, hoses, and even other people, which requires upper body strength. Additionally, firefighters often run up and down stairs to reach their destinations quickly.
These demands on the body require a workout that builds endurance, leg strength, and core fitness. To prepare for the CPAT, start working on a firefighter-specific training program that includes cardio exercise and strength training.
An excellent cardiovascular workout can be done on a treadmill, an elliptical trainer, or simply walking up and down stairs. Add squats, lunges, and jump jacks to build leg strength and core stability. Bench presses are a great way to build upper body strength and can be performed with or without weights as your skill level increases.
Stair running is a crucial component of any firefighter workout and can be done on a stair machine or by climbing stairs. Wear your turnout gear or add TheraBand Ankle and Wrist Weights to your routine to increase the challenge.
Cardiovascular Training
Firefighters need to have good aerobic endurance to perform their jobs. They must also maintain their cardiovascular fitness for extended periods, particularly while wearing a heavy firefighter’s uniform and breathing apparatus.
Studies show that firefighters’ performance on occupational tasks correlates with their cardiovascular capacity and ability to work for prolonged periods.
Cardiovascular training includes long-distance running or biking, circuit training, high-intensity interval workouts, and plyometric exercises. Ideally, these workouts should involve exercises that mimic movements you may encounter on the job.
These workouts should be incorporated into your regular fitness regimen and other exercises that build strength in all major muscle groups, increase flexibility and improve endurance. Fortunately, these workouts do not require expensive equipment and can be done at your fire station using readily available items. Besides improving cardiovascular endurance, these workouts will help you to get that “firefighter-swole” look.
Flexibility Training
Firefighters have a unique job that requires them to perform some of the most physically demanding tasks and to do it safely. To keep themselves safe and healthy, firefighters need a specialized fitness program that helps them achieve good health, increase strength and reduce injury risk.
As a result, the best workout for firefighters incorporates a combination of cardiovascular exercise, weight training, and flexibility exercises. Stair running, for example, is a key element to any firefighter workout. This can be done using a stair-climbing machine or by climbing actual stairs, and should be gradually increased over time.
It is also important to focus on improving the shoulders and back muscles in a firefighter workout, as these are often the source of injuries. Injuries such as these can have serious implications on a fireground and lead to early retirement, so it’s crucial to prevent them with a regular stretching regimen. A strong core is another essential part of a firefighter workout. This is a critical factor in keeping them balanced when lifting and carrying heavy loads, as well as in being able to respond quickly to the challenges of the job.
Nutrition
Keeping up with the rigorous demands of firefighter fitness can be challenging, especially for those in training. However, by following some basic tips, new firefighters can consistently stay motivated to train and prepare themselves for their careers.
A combination of aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises is key to a firefighter fitness program. Aerobic workouts like running, cycling, or swimming help build cardiovascular endurance. While strength training exercises like push-ups, squats, and bench presses can help improve muscular strength and endurance.
Flexibility exercises help reduce the risk of injuries by improving the range of motion. These include stretching exercises, yoga, and foam rolling. Proper nutrition is also important to a firefighter fitness program, as it fuels the body during high-intensity workouts.
A majority of firefighters who die on the job suffer from heart attacks. This is a direct result of the extreme environments they work in and the intense exertions they put their bodies through daily. To improve firefighter functional fitness, incorporate a variety of workouts that simulate the activities in the CPAT, including stepping, carrying, dragging, and pushing exercises over time rather than in one burst.
