WHAT IS F2T?

Fire fighters face significant health risks. Among the top concerns across the fire service are cardiovascular disease, cancer, and behavioral health issues. Although many factors contribute to the prevalence of these negative outcomes, obesity and culture have been noted as two of the primary contributors. Therefore, addressing these two factors can be an effective and powerful means to improve the health and well-being of fire fighters.

There is overwhelming evidence that physical activity and exercise can protect fire fighters against many of the most concerning health issues facing the community. Regular exercise can directly affect the physical, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the onset and progression of disease. Yet, the rates of physical inactivity among fire fighters is very high. Efforts to develop, grow, and amplify initiatives that assist in creating robust, fire-specific systems that support the on-going pursuit of a physically active lifestyle are in critical need.

Engaging in regular physical activity and exercise can also be an effective way for a fire fighter to pursue many positive outcomes; it is not just the avoidance of poor health. A fire fighter might be interested in improving their performance and safety on the job, increasing their energy levels, or ensuring that they can keep doing the things they love to do, with the people they love, long into retirement. Whatever the goals happen to be, possessing the capacity to meet the demands of their desired pursuits is essential.