FOUNDED 1981

 

DOWNLOADS:

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 (hydrostatic weighing 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. 




Body composition analysis administered in our portable hydrostatic weighing tank.
































We measure Maximum Oxygen Consumption and monitor EKG while performing a functional capacity test on a treadmill. In addition to MAX VO2 measurement we will determine anaerobic threshold and fuel utilization. 

.

HIGH RISK PROFILING

Firefighters who have a 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 2009

Tom Stephenson, Rialto Fire Department: Physical Performance Score 1823
Landin Hill, Murrieta Fire Department: Physical Performance Score 1822
Bernard Molloy, Lakeside Fire Department: Physical Performance Score 1802
Nate Bass, Paso Robles Fire Department: Physical Performance Score 1800

2009 Most Fit Fire Department      





BIG BEAR CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT 2nd PLACE MOST FIT FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 2009

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