FireFit Update on Fitness

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FireFit Update on Fitness Standards and
Research Richard Stevenson MSc PGD BSc
MSMA Senior Health Fitness Adviser South Wales
Fire Rescue Service
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2009 Recommendations .11. Further research is
necessary to further quantify the energy
requirements of firefighting. 12. Further work
needs to be undertaken to identify role specific
fitness levels.
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• Key points

• VO2 expressed in ml/kg/min.

• Key tasks identified and quantified in terms of
  VO2 .

• Minimum level of aerobic capacity recommended
  for Royal Navy fire-fighters.

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The tasks were

• Boundary Cooling

• Drum Carry

• Extinguisher Carry

• Hose Run and

• Ladder Climb

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Minimum recommended standard of 41 ml / kg / min-1
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Research Project

• Project Funding
• FireFit
• CFOA
• Knowledge Transfer Partnership through Bath
  University

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Firefighter Fitness Research
CFOA FireFit
Bath University
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Aims Objectives
Title The Classification of the Aerobic Demands
of Firefighting

• The primary objectives will include
• To identify the most physically demanding key
  tasks performed by firefighters.
• To quantify the aerobic demands of these key
  tasks
• To recommend role related, minimum levels of
  cardiorespiratory fitness for fire service
  personnel.

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Aims Objectives

• The key tasks may include the following
  scenarios
• Hose Running.
• Foam Drum Carry.
• Wildland Fire Supression.
• Forced Door Entry and Casualty Evacuation.
• Equipment Carry with Vertical Ascent / Descent.
• Equipment Carry in Rural Situation.

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Next Step

• Consultation Process
• All Fire Rescue Services - Fitness Advisers
• - Occupational Health
• - Human Resources
• - Operational Departments
• Unions Rep Bodies - FBU
• - HSE
• Scientific Community - Kevin Sykes (Chester
  University)
• - Mark Rayson (OP Ltd)

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Dr James Bilzon BSc MSc PhD. Director of
Studies in Sport Exercise Medicine.
University of Bath