chief fire officer association

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