12 Comments

Comment by Bobby King on June 22, 2008 at 4:04am

Land or Water 1000 Mile Club : Have Firefighters start adding up Miles they run walk or swim and when they achieve that goal give em a Tshirt or a Fitness Achievement Medal

200lb Club for Members that are able to Bench or Squat 200lbs
500lbs Club for Members that Can Bench and Squat an accumlitive 500lbs
Half Ton Club For Members that Can Bench and Squat an Accumlative Half Ton ( Damn near impossible but We had one in our highschool Football team) Members that achieve these Fitness goals get a Tshirt

Also Name a Firefighter that dont have aggression to take out .. Hold Monthly Boxing Tournaments winner gets a Trophy and a Tshirt and a free dinner or a Cash prize or something

Just a few ideas We have tried

Comment by Mary Ellen Shea on June 22, 2008 at 7:16am

add a cash incentive--nothing talks louder than money.

Comment by Walter Messer on June 22, 2008 at 2:59pm

cash and or time off

Comment by Eddie Vierra on June 22, 2008 at 4:41pm

My dept. is currently going through the same issues. A good majority of us line members do on a regular basis workout,(weight lifting and aerobic workouts). Our hardest opponent to doing any kind of incentive prorgam is Administration.

How many departments out there have a " fitness for duty" test? Annually, or semi annually?
We are in so many words being forced to perform one in Oct. of this year. Our Assoc. believes that it is wrong because it was not negotiated in our current contract.

I would be also very appreciative for any current incentive programs to bring to my dept.

Comment by Jeff Betz on June 22, 2008 at 7:02pm

I know its WAY too simple, but for me and some others, just feeling and looking better is a great reward. The tough ones are the ones who need it most, and want to do it least. Know this...you likely won't get to them all no matter what you do. Some people are their own worst enemy, and seem to enjoy being...well...stupid. That said, I think FASNY had it right with cash, and I also think a paid day off (or maybe a drawing of eligible employees who meet a standard) is a good award.
Our city newsletter has given our Wellness committee lots of ink to further their goals. Recently they did a small story about one of our female city employees who has lost quite a bit of weight and has become much more fit. I think it did a good job of boosting others to step up. Maybe giving some public praise to those who deserve it would help.

Comment by sarah on June 22, 2008 at 9:45pm

The dept. has decided to make it a cash incentive...because sadly, money seems to motivate people more these days than health. I'm thinking a fitness test to be performed twice a year (because i don't think it's fair for some of the fatties to decide to get in shape once a year just to pass the test.) I want to make it on a point system, so that way if you cannot do all the fitness tests then you can atleast get a part of the incentive money. The toughest part is coming up with elements of the test that are considered appropriate for our fitness level. I'm thinking about starting with a 1.5 mile run in less than 15 minutes and going from there. For our type of physical requirements of our jobs we should be able to handle something like that. I would also like to negotiate into the contract a mandatory workout while on duty. We shift change at 0800 hrs so i think 9-10 am would be sufficient, provided the trucks are checked and we're not busy running calls. I know what you're thinking "mandatory"? But if you are so lazy that you absolutely will not workout, then you've got to play the game...put on your gym clothes and stand there...pretend to lift weights....something. It might actually get people motivated. We all know that heart attack is our number one killer...we need to take action now and the best way to so is prevention!

Comment by Jeff Betz on June 22, 2008 at 10:12pm

I'm sure you already know, but if you are IAFF, check out the wellness / fitness initiative stuff they have. The recommendation in there is that it be mandatory, which I think is fine. The ones who need it most will only do it with a LOT of pushing them for their own good.

Comment by Walter Messer on June 22, 2008 at 11:03pm

Some would think the insurance companies would give insentive to our cities. I just sat through a seminar on safety and suvival for the firefighter, and of course our cities insurance carrier was there and gave there song and dance. It was brought up -if they gave cities insentive discounts and the cities gave it to the employee's (cash or time off) it would be a win - win for them. They said it wouldn't work. The insurance money wouldn't see any benefit.... then they didn't want to discuss it anymore........ I say it starts from the top. Give use the right area and program and people will workout here

Comment by Eddie Vierra on June 23, 2008 at 12:46am

I am all for fitness. That is our job, besides fires and ems calls. The public sees fire fighters as being symbols of fitness. We have to be, to do all that we do in this day and age.

I have no problems with taking a "Fitness for Duty" test. I do believe that I am not at my most physically fit, but am striving for it everyday.

We are not allowed to workout on duty. Some of us have brought in our own tread mills, and free weights, but admin still frowns on it. They expect us to do our training on our own time.

I would like to see a PT period at the end of the day, maybe an hour or 2.

The dept pays for the volunteers gym fees and we get included in that for now. But with the economy now a days, that will soon be coming to a close.

Comment by Captain Chaos on June 23, 2008 at 8:08pm

There is no better incentive than good health and being able to do the job effectively and efficiently. If you need motivation to stay fit in the Fire Service, you shouldn't be in it.

Add a Comment

• 1
• 2