The program starts with a comprehensive physical exam for every fire fighter. The exams include lab work and screening tests for a variety of health problems. Once they have passed the physical exam and received medical clearance to start the fitness program, a fitness test is administered to evaluate their current physical condition. Based on the test, each fire fighter is prescribed an individual exercise program designed to help him or her meet personal and professional goals. While the fire fighters aren’t held to any specific benchmarks, the fitness test will be repeated annually to assess progress.

Each fire company will come to the Wellness Center at an assigned time. Together they’ll work out for one hour each week. Allowing the fire fighters to exercise while they’re on the clock means they can work out without sacrificing time with their families. They are, however, full Wellness Center members and can return to the center on their own time as they wish. Membership in the center is a part of the program and is offered at no cost to the fire fighters.

In addition to workouts, fire fighters can also take advantage of specialized educational programs on topics such as:

• Stress management
• Body mechanics
• Smoking cessation
• Nutrition

The fire fighters aren’t the only ones learning. In order to create the optimum in health benefits and resources for the JPFD, The Wellness Center staff is studying fire fighting to learn more about the physical and emotional demands of the job. This helps them customize individual exercise prescriptions to address not only the fire fighter’s goals, but the specific demands of his or her job as well.

The aim of the program is to improve quality of life for the fire fighters, but the East Bank community will also benefit from the program.