chief fire officer association paul hancock, deputy chief fire officer update on national aerobic...
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Chief Fire Officer Association
Paul Hancock, Deputy Chief Fire Officer
Update on National Aerobic Fitness Standards
Fire Brigade Union
John McGhee, FBU National Officer
FireFit Steering GroupPaul Wilsher & Rich Stevenson
FireFit Steering group
Key summary findings of FRS fitness policies and practices survey
Paul Wilsher
Key areas
• Fitness policy• Fitness testing of operational personnel• Aerobic standards
– gender, age, role adjustments• Testing frequency and protocols used• Supervision & Qualifications• Watch PTI courses
Respondents
• Questionnaire sent to 62 CFOs UK & Channel Islands in March 2009
• 43 Responses (69%) received between April – June 2009
• 19 did not respond
Policy
• 30 FRSs (70%) have a fitness policy• 9 have a policy in development• 4 do not have a policy
Dedicated Fitness Adviser
22
15
51
No Fulltime Fitness Adviser Non Uniform Fitness Adviser
Uniformed Fitness Adviser Mixed Team
7 FRSs employ a part-time or dual role fitness adviser
Fitness adviser Qualifications
• 13 FRSs stated that their fitness adviser held a Sports Science based Degree
• Other typical qualifications were diverse:– NVQ level 3– HND, HNC– REPS level 3 personal trainer
• Need for a person specification for role?
Fitness Assessments
8
11
7
7
10
35
No Fitness Assessment Occupational Health Fitness Adviser
Watch PTI Not Specified
35 FRSs (81%) carry out fitness testing
Fitness Testing Frequency
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
No
. F
RS
s
6 12 18 24 36 variable
Testing Frequency (months)
Aerobic Fitness Standard
• 18 apply VO2 standard of 42mlO2/kg/min
• 9 apply modified standard for age• 7 apply modified standard for age and gender• Some operate a role related policy• 28 FRSs (65%) remove from operational duties
(range <22 - <38mlO2/kg/min)
Primary Protocols
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
No
. F
RS
s
ChesterStep
Shuttle Run Gasanalysis
ChesterTreadmill
Walk
AstrandCycle
Protocols
15 FRSs use gas analysis to underpin primary protocol
Watch PTIs
• 19 FRSs stated that they had watch PTIs– Trained predominantly ‘in-house’– Training ranges from 1-10 days
• 8 FRSs deliver externally accredited courses e.g. Level 2 gym instructor– YMCA, ActiveIQ
Summary
• Majority of FRSs have fitness policies– Fitness issues now taken seriously
• Disparity of policy, direction and standard• Survey results
– Further debate– Sharing best practice
• Target to result in more uniform approach to fire fighter health and fitness
Thank you to all respondents
Full details & report will be available at
www.firefitsteeringgroup.co.uk