Firefighter Functional Fitness: The Essential Guide to Optimal Firefighter Performance and Longevity

Firefighter Functional Fitness is the essential guide to optimal firefighter performance and longevity. It provides all firefighters with the knowledge, mindset, and tools to:
- Maximize their fire ground performance 
- Reduce their risk of injury and experiencing a line-of-duty death
- Live a long, healthy career and retirement

Designed for firefighters by firefighters, this book shares The 4 Pillars of Firefighter Functional Fitness: 
1- Physical Fitness
2- Recovery and Rest
3- Hydration
4- Nutrition and Lifestyle

It also reveals The Big 8 concept, which includes over 100 photos and descriptions of functional exercises, movements, and stretches that are specifically designed to enhance firefighter performance. The Workout Programming chapter gives firefighters numerous options for putting The Big 8 into action, taking into account all levels of fitness. Additionally, each chapter provides practical action steps for both immediate improvement and long-term success.

Must-read bonus chapters include:
- The Importance of Annual Medical Evaluations
- An Analysis of the Fire Service’s Cardiovascular Epidemic
- Firefighter Physical Agility Assessments
- Addressing Organizational Barriers to Fitness
- Frequently Asked Questions

Alarmingly, over the past 10 years, the fire service has suffered more than 1,000 line-of-duty deaths. Unfortunately, over 50% of these LODDs were attributed to heart attacks, strokes, and other medical causes. Firefighter Functional Fitness attacks these statistics by providing all firefighters with the tools needed to combat this epidemic.

Firefighter Functional Fitness brings together the authors’ combined 40+ years of fire service experience and decades of utilizing functional fitness principles. The result is an invaluable resource with the vital tools and knowledge that firefighters desperately need to not only enjoy a healthy productive career, but also benefit with a healthy retirement. 

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Editorial Reviews:

“Am I ready?” All firefighters are aware that they can be called to work at an intense and challenging fire at any moment, but great firefighters fully understand that the difference between success and failure comes down to their everyday habits. They know that their training, education, and fitness matter. We all have the time to improve our knowledge base as well as our ability to deal with the mental and physical stress of the job. Regrettably, far too many firefighters waste precious moments of every day that they could instead use to prepare for their defining moment. 

I promise you: At some point your body will be tested and your physical limitations will be exposed. It may be today, next week, or a year from now, but it’s going to happen. Don’t waste any more time. Ask yourself: “What can I do today to physically prepare for that moment?” If you struggle to find an answer, I’m confident that Firefighter Functional Fitness is the solution.

Frank Viscuso
Deputy Fire Chief
Kearny Fire Department, New Jersey
Author - Step Up and Lead and Step Up Your Teamwork

*****

Firefighters must be jacks of all trades---especially with their fitness. We must have the endurance of marathon runners, the strength of powerlifters, the speed of sprinters, and the flexibility of yoga masters. It is very difficult to find a program that gives you the knowledge and tools needed to accomplish this---until now. With Firefighter Functional Fitness, Dan and Jim have nailed it! This book is a must-read for all firefighters!

Robert Owens
Lieutenant
Henrico County Division of Fire, Virginia
AverageJakeFirefighter