Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Effective Exercises Towards Fitness During Fire Fighter Training

By Tanisha Berg


Your desire as a firefighter is to be an effective rescuer regardless of prevailing conditions. This comes from appreciating the fact that the conditions are usually stressful and strenuous. Fitness becomes a critical part of any rescue mission. There are specific exercises that should be integrated with fire fighter training to improve your effectiveness.

Weight Lifting- water hoses and other equipment are heavy and sometimes have to be transported several floors up a storey building. You do not have the luxury of making several stops to take a breathe. This means that your muscles must be built to endure heavy weight and steep climbs without a break. The legs must be subjected to similar endurance exercises.

Strong hands- rescuers are required to evacuate people before fighting fires. Some of them might be unconscious out of panic or suffocation. You will require the strength to carry them to safety without endangering your life in the process. Your hands must therefore be strong and ready to carry a heavy load or person in the best position.

Flexibility- rescue conditions will require you to squeeze through tight slits and spaces. Such confinement requires a lot of flexibility to avoid endangering your life and that of the rescue victim. All this must happen while you still have your breathe. Fitness allows you to multitask to reduce rescue time and achieve more.

Grip- ropes are common tools for rescuers in all situations. They are used to haul equipment or gain access to precarious areas. A firm grip is required so that the equipment do not slip off your hands. A weak grip is also likely to blister your hands when overpowered by the weight. Releasing equipment held by the rope is likely to cause injuries to others on the scene as well as breakages.

Balancing- It is not always possible to find a favorable ground to walk on during rescue. Tight spots require the use of toes and incredible balancing skills. You will be having rescue or fire fighting equipment. The situation requires concentration and training on balance to increase effectiveness.

Lifting and balancing columns- rescue missions use ladders to access heights. They must be placed within a short time and in perfect balance. This calls for strong hands that can control columns in the air. There are specialist and equipment to enhance such skills.

Cardio Resilience- a rescuer will find himself in confined spaces with no air supply on numerous occasions. Smoke is common regardless of the fact that you may have breathing apparatus. The little air must be utilized without loosing effectiveness. This is best achieved through cardio endurance exercises.

Hitting and Punching- disasters cause blockage of access routes which requires rescuers to break through doors and walls. There are no hammers in some instances. You will be required to use hands, legs and elbow. A punching bag would help in enhancing these skills.

Situations involving fires are delicate and require a fully prepared rescuer. Quick response, strength and flexibility are important. Some situations are prolonged for several hours. This calls for endurance and the highest level of resilience. A fire fighter who is fully fit is an asset for any rescue team.




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