Labor and Management Work Together to Protect Phoenix Fire Fighters

Mike Smith sees all body types at the Phoenix Fire Department Health Center. The deputy fire chief works with younger, aggressive fire fighters to 50-year-old veterans. On any given day, fire fighters connected to electrocardiogram devices run on treadmills, while others demonstrate their flexibility through movement-functionality drills. Every Phoenix fire fighter is subject to the same scrutiny at the health center, especially when it comes to early detection of heart disease, a trend that shifted the wellness focus of many U.S. fire departments in recent years.