Firefighter Functional Fitness

Book excerpt: Firefighter Functional Fitness is the essential guide to optimal firefighter performance and longevity. It provides all firefighters with the knowledge, mindset, and tools to:Maximize their fire ground performance Reduce their risk of injury and experiencing a line-of-duty deathLive a long, healthy career and retirementDesigned for firefighters by firefighters, this book shares the The 4 Pillars of Firefighter Functional Fitness: Physical FitnessRecovery and RestHydrationNutrition and LifestyleIt also reveals the The Big 8 concept, which includes over 100 photos and descriptions of functional exercises, movements, and stretches that are specifically designed to enhance firefighter performance. The Workout Programming chapter gives firefighters numerous options for putting The Big 8 into action, taking into account all levels of fitness. Additionally, each chapter provides practical action steps for both immediate improvement and long-term success.Must-read bonus chapters include:The Importance of Annual Medical EvaluationsAn Analysis of the Fire Service's Cardiovascular EpidemicFirefighter Physical Agility AssessmentsAddressing Organizational Barriers to FitnessFrequently Asked QuestionsAlarmingly, over the past 10 years, the fire service has suffered more than 1,000 line-of-duty deaths. Unfortunately, over 50% of these LODDs were attributed to heart attacks, strokes, and other medical causes. Firefighter Functional Fitness attacks these statistics by providing all firefighters with the tools needed to combat this epidemic.Firefighter Functional Fitness brings together the authors' combined 40+ years of fire service experience and decades of utilizing functional fitness principles. The result is an invaluable resource with the vital tools and knowledge that firefighters desperately need to not only enjoy a healthy and productive career, but also benefit with a healthy retirement.