Each year in the United States more than 300 law enforcement personnel
and firefighters die in the line of duty and another 1500 are
forced into early retirement because of job-related illnesses
and injuries. Additionally, another 100,000 police officers and
firefighters suffer lost-worktime occupational injuries. Although
firefighting and law enforcement may require sudden, strenuous
exertion and exceptional physical performance, a majority of the
duties of public safety personnel can be characterized as sedentary
in nature (i.e. vehicle patrol, building inspection, public education,
equipment maintenance, and investigative activity). The combination
of these two extremes in physical activity is responsible for
a significant number of on-the-job injuries and illnesses. Unless
public safety agencies are willing to place sufficient emphasis
on developing and maintaining firefighter and police officer fitness,
they will be faced with on-going disability claims from personnel
in less than optimal condition who are injured in the line of
duty.
In
response to a growing concern for the disabling illnesses and
injuries suffered by these public safety personnel, members of
the LawFit® and FireFit® Programs at George Mason University,
personnel from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services,
and law enforcement and firefighting professionals from throughout
the Commonwealth of Virginia have come together to form the National
Center for Public Safety Fitness. The Center's mission is to provide
health and fitness information and training for public safety
personnel, to include: Police Officers, Sheriff's Deputies, Corrections
Officers, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Technicians.
If
your department or agency is interested in:
- Increasing
the fitness levels of firefighters or police officers
-
Reducing lost work time injuries and workers' compensation claims
-
Speeding up the recovery time of injured personnel
then…The
National Center For Public Safety Fitness can provide the necessary
training and education for your personnel.
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