Leading the Way to a Fitter Department

By
by Mike Krueger

Not many people would disagree with the idea that everyone needs exercise to be fit andhealthy。The overwhelming medical evidence indicates that this is the case. We are all aware of the tragic numbers ofline-of-duty cardiac-related deathsas well as the mortality statistics for retiredfirefighters。As chief, what can you do on the local level to help reverse this trend? What it would take to make your department fit and healthy so that the members might live long and productive lives as well as provide exemplary service to the community they serve?

Basic Opportunities

Providing the time and place for fitness training is probably the easiest aspect of creating a viable program within your department. There is generally sufficient unstructured time during a shift to include an hour for fitness training. Most station houses have an area that can be designated forexercise; in fact the majority of stations already have an exercise area.

An issue that occasionally causes an unnecessary complication is how to outfit an exercise area. Usually, a committee is formed and there is much discussion in regard to equipment and various amenities. Occasionally, when strong personalities and opinions are involved, the planning phase becomes so bogged down in minutiae that the entire project is in danger of collapsing. This doesn’t have to happen if all parties agree to start with absolute basics and add from there.
With the purchase of a few sets of barbells, some dumb bells, benches,a safety rack, mats, and bands, you will have everything you need to get your program off the ground. You don’t need machines to get sufficient cardiovascular exercise. There is probably a flight of stairs in your station; all members have to do is start running. Machines are expensive, require a fair amount of room and maintenance, and often end up being under-utilized. It is better to wait until a specific need is identified rather than to try to fill a perceived need with new equipment purchases. It is easy to get wrapped up in the bells and whistles of equipment, but it is not necessary.
Creating the Team
When it comes tofitness training, it is helpful to look at your department as a team. Evert department will order its team differently. The personalities involved will determine the hierarchy that will work for you.
You are the leader; it all starts and ends with you. You may be the hands-ontype or more of a behind-the-scenes person. You may be the type to show up at an incident, or you may be content with reports of what happened. Whatever your style, the bottom line is that you will set the tone for the rest of your team. The farther away from you a firefighter is, the more diluted your message will be. It is vitally important that everyone on your management team have the same message and that it is your message and has been delivered your way.
You may choose to be the head coach and general manager. This is a tall order for anyone, but this may be the way you like it。You prefer to make the decisions as well as implement them. On the other hand, you may just want to be the general manager. In this case, choosing your head coach becomes your next task.
You do not have to fill this positionwith the next senior person on your staff. Your deputy or assistant chiefs may not have the personality or interest to fill this position. It could be an officer or a basic firefighter. It doesn’t matter in the context of the department authority continuum, because he will draw his power directly from you. The head coach needs to understand that he reports to and is accountable only to you. His job is to follow your directives, but he also needs sufficient leeway to implement your program without being micromanaged.
The同行健身教练认证是一个宝贵的tool available to the head coach. Participation in this training program involves a commitment on the part of the trainer to gain the education necessary to make your program initiative successful. He will then train additional personnel to be his assistants, thereby creating a culture rife with health and fitness knowledge.
Hiring an outside trainer or consultant may be valuable as well. This person can increase the perceived value of your program by bringing in alternative training methods and motivational ideas. It is helpful to remain open minded when it comes to opportunities to get more members involved in your program。个人动机是成功的关键ss.
Personal Involvement

With everything you have on your plate, the last thing you need is something moreto do. Unfortunately, that is exactly what you are going to get. You are the leader and, like it or not, your example is going to make or break your health and fitness initiative.

This isn’t to suggest that you will need to become a marathon runner or a body builderbut that you become an active and observable participant by means of your own fitness routine. “Do as I say, not as I do” could sink your initiative before it has a chance to catch on. Additionally, a visible and vocal commitment supporting those implementing your program and those participating in it will go a long way toward ensuring success.

Maximizing Your Influence
You are the general manager, but you need to be the head cheerleader as well. As general manager, you will guarantee that the program is going in the direction you have chosen. Your coaching staff will look to you for guidance as well as personal empowerment to implement your policies as they see fit. They need to know that they have your support 100 percent, or your program will not succeed.
As cheerleader, you will need to get out among the troops and encourage participation and acknowledge achievement. A simple thing such as a wall of fame showing how well individuals are doing in the pursuit of their goals can be a strong motivational tool. An e-mail congratulating someone on reaching a milestone in their training indicates that you are engaged and keeping track of everyone’s progress. They need to know that this program was your idea and you are doing it because it is something you believe to be important.

You care about your department and your community, and this one way of showing it. Having strong, healthy firefighters will go a long way toward creating the healthful, positive environment that will be your legacy for years to come.

Michael Krueger is an independent personal trainer in Madison, Wisconsin. He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He received his introduction to fitness training while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. He has provided nutrition and fitness training to the Fitchburg (WI) Fire Department based on his understanding of the risks and demands involved in firefighting, which he had gained though his military experience. He was a guest speaker at the FRI 2009 Conference in Dallas.

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