FOUNDED 1981

 

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IS YOUR DEPARTMENT FIT FOR DUTY? WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY ARE!!

Fitness Appraisal, Inc. was established in 1981.  We specialize in administrating wellness/fitness programs for fire departments.

What Is Killing America's Firefighters?
Heart Attacks Claim More Firefighters Than Any Other Cause

The U.S. Fire Administration has released a comprehensive study which examines the causes of deaths for on-duty firefighters. The leading cause of death for firefighters is heart attack – 44%. Firefighters face a much higher risk of death from heart attack when battling a blaze — up to 100 times the normal rate — and are more likely to be struck even when they're doing less-strenuous tasks, according to a Harvard study.

Fitness Appraisal's Wellness/Fitness Program complies with the following agencies requirements and recommendations: 

Fitness Component outlined in the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative

NFPA 1583 Standards on Recommended Practice For Fire Fighter Physical Performance and Conditioning Program

OSHA Safety Order Section 5144 concerning respirator compliance certificates

The following is a list of services provided:  

Medical Questionnaire implementation for OSHA Respiratory Protection program compliance
Comprehensive blood profile (optional blood profiles include CBC, PSA , CRP and VAP lipid profile)
Lifestyle questionnaire (including a 3 day diet recall)
Body composition Bio-electrical Impedance Analysis and skinfold methods
Resting blood pressure and heart rate
Respiratory analysis (Vital Capacity and FEV1)
Grip strength
Vertical jump
Two minute abdominal curls
Prognostic EKG treadmill test with Max VO2 measurement
Flexibility assessment
Hearing and vision screening
Physical Fitness Age determination
Firefighter Physical Performance Score
Computerized report containing comprehensive cardiovascular risk analysis, exercise recommendations, nutrition recommendations, back injury prevention recommendations and heart disease reduction recommendations
Consultation on wellness/fitness screenings and program recommendations. 

   

Measured Max VO2 test to determine anaerobic threshold, aerobic threshold, substrate utilization, oxygen extraction in the lungs, cardiac power output, heart rate training zones, peak arterial pressure and oxygen consumption.

UFC fighter GSP performing a Max VO2 test.  Test administered by Bob Antonacci on ESPN Sport Network.

New Testing Protocol For 2012:                                Pull-up test addition will add points to the Performance Score.                                                                  Push-up test will add points to the Performance Score.   Full sit-ups will replace curl-up test for 2 minutes.  

HIGH RISK PROFILING:
Firefighters who have a high AIG Score, Framingham Risk Score (heart disease risk score) of 11% or more, have an abnormal exercise stress test (EKG abnormalities, low Chronotropic Index scores, low heart rate recovery rates, abnormal exercise blood pressure and impaired functional capacity), angina, high blood pressure, high lipid profile, low HDL, high glucose and other  abnormal blood parameters will be recommended to seek medical intervention from their primary care provider.

Firefighters identified with high health risk will receive a confidential medical referral.

Incentive Program:

Big Bear City Fire Department and Big Bear Lake Fire Department both implement an incentive bonus of $500 for any firefighter scoring 1500 or meeting all ideal standards on the Firefighter Physical Performance Score or achieves a Physical Fitness Age 15 years below their chronological age.  A $150 bonus awarded to any firefighter improving their performance score by 150 points.

IAFC STATEMENT

"A program of physical fitness, health and wellness should be an objective at every fire department as a means for potentially reducing fire fighter injuries.



The program should be designed to enable members of the department to develop and maintain appropriate levels of physical fitness." 

"The Task Force agrees that all information obtained from the medical and physical evaluations is confidential, and the employer will only have access to information regarding fitness for duty, necessary work restriction, and appropriate accommodations."

MOST FIT FIREFIGHTERS 2011

Pechanga Fire Department:

Dan Cerda1803
Bill Baker 1804
Eric Cook 1812
Hector Tamayo 1813
Chris Burch 1844
Kyle Duckworth 1871

Big Bear Lake Fire Department

Tony Picciano 1804
Nick Turner 1833

Paso Robles Fire Department

Chuck Brown 1861
Nate Bass 1912

Rialto Fire Department

Tom Stephenson 1906

Murrieta Fire Department

Landon Hill 1805

Lakeside Fire Department

Bernard Molloy 1809

Big Bear City Fire Department

Bobby Witmore 1803

MOST FIT FIREFIGHTER 2011: NATE BASS, PASO ROBLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. PERFORMANCE SCORE: 1912.

RUNNER-UP: TOM STEPHENSON, RIALTO FIRE DEPARTMENT.  PERFORMANCE SCORE 1906.

2011 MOST FIT FIRE DEPARTMENT: PASO ROBLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. Performance Score Average 1645.

PECHANGA FIRE DEPARTMENT 2nd PLACE MOST FIT FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 2011. Performance Score average 1615.

THIRD PLACE MOST FIT FIRE DEPARTMENT 2011: BIG BEAR CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. Average Performance Score: 1599.

Bob Antonacci, MSEd.
 Exercise Physiologist. President

Bob Antonacci is also the founder of a non profit corporation called Sky High Training.


Fitness Appraisal, Inc. P.O. Box 1566, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315