The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness / Fitness Initiative is a historic partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) to improve the wellness of fire department personnel. Lake Travis Fire/Rescue has used this initiative as a guide in forming the Department’s Wellness/Fitness Team and implementing the Wellness/Fitness Program.

The team and program exist to have a positive influence on member’s health and fitness through a program that is non-punitive. It is a commitment from management and labor to offer an individualized program that will motivate firefighters, staff and other personnel to obtain and maintain good health. The goal of the program is to strengthen our members mental, physical and emotional capabilities enough to withstand the stresses and strains of our job and our lives. This will hopefully allow us to do our job better and reduce the amount of hours lost due to injury.

The program encompasses the following areas:

• Medical Fitness
• Physical Fitness
• Emotional Fitness
• Access to Rehabilitation

There is also a commitment to:

• The health, safety and longevity of all department members
• The productivity and performance of all fire crews
• The cost-effectiveness and welfare of the department

The reasons for this program are demonstrated each year throughout the nation and in our own fire department. Each year the IAFF Death and Injury Survey demonstrates that firefighting remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Long hours, sporadic high intensity work, strong emotional involvement and exposure to human suffering places firefighting among the most stressful occupations one can encounter. By implementing this program we hope to reduce the number of deaths or injuries from the three leading causes: heart disease, lung disease and cancer. Safety in firefighting has traditionally meant the purchase of new equipment or protective clothing, but we must realize the most important component in emergency response is our members. Safety must include serving our members through a wellness/fitness program.

All levels of the Fire Department must support and commit to the program for it to succeed. There are costs to implement such a program, but the rewards and benefits can provide long term savings.

We hope the improvements made in the next several years will encourage each member to look at their own level of wellness and fitness, and to use this program to stay healthy for many years to come.