DRAFT

State Of Ohio Firefighter Fitness and Wellness Program

 

WELLNESS

 

The Wellness component will provide employee assistance and encourage fire fighters to adopt permanent lifestyle changes.  The wellness component thrust areas include: tobacco use (smoking) prevention and cessation, nutrition, stress management, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and early identification of hypertension.

 

OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT

 

The Annual Occupational Assessment will consist of the tasks outlined in Attachment #1.

 

FITNESS TRAINING

 

Fitness training will be accomplished to improve or maintain firefighter cardiovascular conditioning, endurance, and muscular strength and is considered necessary to complete the Annual Occupational Assessment.

 

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

 

Prior to the Annual Occupational Assessment those persons whose annual physical (NFPA1582) are not current will be required to complete the physical.

 

The annual Occupational Assessment will be administered at each base. Each person who completes all of the evaluation stations on the first attempt will receive $300.00 or 24 hours of Fitness Incentive Leave. This leave will be used at mutually agreed upon times.  The goal is to have each person complete the assessment. Data will be gathered at each base and forwarded to the Physical Abilities Committee. This data will be used to evaluate and correct problems that may arise.

 

If an individual is unable to complete the Annual Occupational Assessment, the individual will not receive the $300.00 fitness incentive and will enter into a Physical Conditioning Program under the guidance of a qualified Fire Department Fitness Coordinator. The Health Metric or similar programs may be used to create a fitness program for the individual.  

 

After completing two years of the program, the Physical Abilities Committee will review compiled data and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

 

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ATTACHMENT # 1

 

 

The following is the minimum list of equipment items required to perform the annual firefighter occupational assessment followed by a detailed description of each of the 10 fire-fighting tasks. All tasks will be performed in Turnout Gear (Bunker Gear) while breathing from a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

 

Item

Equipment Required

Available

1

One 50-foot section of 3-inch fire hose.

 

2

One 14-foot ladder.

 

3

Two 50-foot sections of 1¾ inch charged hose with a nozzle.

 

4

One 24-35 foot extension ladder with the 10th rung marked with colored tape.

 

5

One 100-foot section of 3-inch hose.

 

6

One 50-foot section of 3-inch hose.

 

7

Two 60-foot lengths of half-inch rope.

 

8

 Kaiser Sled.

 

9

One 10-pound rubber coated sledgehammer.

 

10

One 30-inch high picnic table.

 

11

One (4 by 8 foot) sheet of 1/2-inch plywood.

 

12

One Rescue Randy mannequin weighing 145 pounds.

 

13

One Hurst spreader tool.

 

14

One stethoscope.

 

15

One aneroid sphygmomanometer. (Blood Pressure Cuff)

 

17

Two stopwatches.

 

18

One 50 or 100 foot tape measure.

 

19

Two rolls of different colored duct tape or equivalent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter Occupational Assessment Circuit Description:  The circuit consists of 10 simulated fire-fighting tasks that must be completed in a continuous and consecutive manner on a smooth surface.  Rest periods not to exceed two minutes total may be utilized during the test between tasks. Resting during a task will be construed as a break and is not allowed. Walking between tasks permits the firefighter to recover their breathing pattern and allows them to cool down.  The tasks that make up the occupational fitness assessment circuit are as follows:

 

 

Task #1:  One Arm Hose Carry.  The firefighter carries one 50-foot section of rolled 3 inch hose in one hand a distance of 50 feet, touches the line with at least one foot and returns the same distance, carrying the hose in the other hand.  The hose is then safely placed on the start line when at least one foot touches the line.  This task simulates the requirement of carrying a rolled hose from a fire truck to a fire hydrant or to the fire scene.  Equipment must be carried from the truck to the fire scene because fire trucks must be parked away from the actual fire for safety reasons.  The candidate then walks 50 feet to Task #2.

 

 

Task #2:  Ladder Raise.  The firefighter picks up a 14-foot ladder from the floor, carries it a distance of 50 feet and raises it against a wall at a predetermined position.  This task simulates the requirement of removing a ladder from a truck, carrying it to the fire scene, and raising it against a wall.  After completing this task the candidate will complete task #3.

 

 

Task #3:  Ladder Lower.  The firefighter is required to lower the 14-foot ladder using any technique.  He/she is then required to carry the ladder a distance of 50 feet, touch the line with at least one foot, and then safely lower the ladder.  This task simulates moving a ladder from one location at the fire scene to another or carrying a ladder from the fire scene back to the truck.  The candidate then walks 50 feet to Task #4.

 

 

Task #4:  Charged Hose Drag.  The firefighter picks up the nozzle end of a 100-foot section of 1¾ inch charged hoseline and drags the hose a distance of 100 feet.  The firefighter then places the nozzle end of the charged hoseline at the 100-foot mark when at least one foot touches the line.  At fire scenes, firefighters must drag sections of charged hose from the fire truck to the fire scene.  After completing this task the candidate walks 50 feet to Task #5.

 

 

Task #5:  First Ladder Climb.  This task requires the firefighter to climb 10 rungs up and 10 rungs down on a 24-35 foot extension ladder.  This process is repeated 3 times for a total of 30 rungs up and 30 rungs down.  The firefighter must place both feet on the 10th rung prior to descending.  The firefighter must place both feet on the ground prior to ascending.  The fire department assessment monitor must call out the number of rungs climbed to assist the firefighter performing this task (i.e. one, two, three, etc).  It is important to only call out the rungs completed so as not to pace the firefighter by voice command.  The firefighter being evaluated must determine their own pace.  This task represents the requirement to climb and descend three flights of stairs.  A ladder is used to perform this task since our fire stations do not have three flights of stairs.  After completing this task the candidate walks 100 feet to Task #6.

 

Task #6:  High Volume Hose Pull.  The firefighter is required to pull a 100 ft section of  3 inch hose, using a rope, a total distance of 100 feet. The firefighter must use a hand-over-hand, one or two hand pull technique. This task commences with the firefighter pulling the hose from the “50 foot mark” to the “start” line.  Once the hose reaches the “start” line, he/she walks 50 feet to the “50 foot mark,” picks up the rope and pulls the hose back towards him-self or her-self until the hose reaches the “50 foot mark.”  This task must be completed on a smooth concrete slab floor, which is common in most apparatus stalls.  This task simulates the requirement to pull equipment onto a roof or into a burning building utilizing a hand-over-hand technique.  For safety reasons, this task is simulated on the floor versus having the firefighter actually pull equipment onto a roof. After completing this task the candidate walks 50 feet to Task #7.

 

 

Task #7:  Forcible Entry.  The firefighter is required to drive  a Kaiser sled 12 inches this correlates scientifically with the forces required to knock down structures (doors/walls) in order to obtain access.    After completing this task the candidate walks 50 feet to Task #8.

 

 

Task #8:  Victim Drag.  The firefighter is required to drag a “Rescue Randy” rescue mannequin weighing 145 pounds a total distance of 100 feet.  The mannequin cannot be dragged by its clothing.  Dragging the mannequin is done as for human victims by holding at the upper torso.  Using a belt at the upper torso (under the arms) is required. The mannequin is dragged from the 50-foot line to the start line.  Once the firefighter touches the start line with at least one foot, he/she must turn around and drag the mannequin back to the 50-foot line.  The mannequin is placed on the 50-foot line when the firefighter places at least one foot on the line.  This task simulates the evacuation of a casualty from a burning structure.  After completing this task the candidate walks 50 feet to Task #9.

 

 

Task #9:  Second Ladder Climb.  The firefighter is required to climb 10 rungs up and 10 rungs down twice.  This task is identical to Task #5 except the firefighter only climbs up and down twice instead of three times.  The firefighter may stop and rest during the task, however for safety reasons, the firefighter should be encouraged to rest prior to his/her second ascent, and should be discouraged from resting on the 10th rung.  Two feet must be placed on the 10th rung and on the ground as described in Task #5.  After completing the task the candidate walks 100 feet to Task #10.

 

 

Task #10:  Spreader Tool Carry.  The firefighter is required to lift the spreader tool from the “start line” and carry it to the 50-foot line, and then turn around and carry the spreader tool back to the start line and place the spreader tool back to the ground.  This task represents carrying a tool to the scene.

 

 

 

This completes the Abilities Test.