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Wellness & Fitness Initiative

Firefighter Fitness Facts

CYBEX is proud to support the brave men and women of the fire services who risk their lives each day in the performance of hazardous duties. Our long medical heritage and extensive research efforts in biomechanics and human performance help to ensure that you are provided with the very best equipment, information, and programming. As your partner in firefighting, CYBEX hopes to make your job a little easier, a lot safer, and significantly more rewarding.

Who Are Firefighters?

As of 2004, there were over 1.1 million firefighters in over 30,000 fire departments across the United States
293,600 are career firefighters and 784,700 are volunteers
The average age of firefighters is 35, with a range in some departments between 17 and 65
Firefighters combat fires in homes, buildings, industrial facilities, and natural environments
Other duties and responsibilities of firefighters include, rescues, extractions, handling hazardous materials, maintaining vehicles and equipment, and emergency medical support

High Risks of Firefighters

Injury Statistics

One out of every three firefighters will be injured this year
Injuries on the fireground account for 47% of total line of duty injuries
Fractures, sprains, and muscle strains account for roughly 62% of all injuries
42% of these injuries affect the extremities (arms and legs) while 22% involve the back
The primary causative factor for these injuries is overexertion
While most injuries are not deemed serious, 33% result in some lost time

Fatality Statistics

During the decade from 1994 - 2004, an average of 114 firefighters died each year
Of all 2008 deaths, 68% were volunteers while 32% were career firefighters
44% of the career firefighter deaths occurred on the fireground while 45% of the volunteers died while responding to or returning from fires
On average, roughly 40% of all fatalities are caused by sudden cardiac death; 46% of those are caused by overexertion
Career firefighters between 41 and 45 years account for 33% of sudden cardiac deaths in that group, while volunteers over 70 years comprise the most frequent victims in their group

Physical Demands of Firefighters

Firefighters have the highest short-surge physiologic demands of any occupation
Strenuous job tasks include:
Carrying gear up stairs
Advancing charged hoses
Using pike poles and axes to break through doors, walls, and ceilings
Raising ladders
Rescuing victims
Hoisting equipment
Firefighters carry roughly 50 Lbs of protective equipment, including turnout gear, helmets and masks, boots, and SCBA
The use of a 15 kg SCBA increases cardiorespiratory strain 20% and cause significant postural stress
Heart rates during short, high-intensity activities reach between 150 - 190 beats per minute, with an average response of 157 - 165 BPM
Rescues and ceiling breaches evoke heart rates near 95% of maximum
Oxygen consumption may reach 85% or 95% of maximum for brief periods

What does this mean to the community?

82% of the overall budgets of fire departments support personnel-their greatest assets
Medical disability from occupational injuries account for 50% of the retirements in some departments
Injury rates and use of sick time usage can be reduced, controlling overtime costs
Departments in the Wellness Fitness Initiative have shown a 28% decrease in lost work days
For every dollar spent on uniformed personnel wellness, via implementation of the WFI, results in an almost immediate return of over two dollars in occupational injury and illness costs
The commitment to support firefighter fitness serves both the firefighter and the community as it readies them to better serve and protect its residents and reduce their exposure to serious injury or death

For a list of references used in this page please click here.

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