What Types of Fitness Training do Firefighters Actually Need? Models to Adapt Training Preference

by John R. Bennett, MS, CSCS,*D
TSAC Report April 2016
Vol 42, Issue 1

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Military and law enforcement needs analyses are not specifically matched to firefighting, but those training styles are better than basic fitness regimens or no regimen at all. For firefighters who are attracted to other styles of training not specific to firefighting, there are ways to train for all the demands of firefighting without making the firefighter use training modalities that they dislike or are not comfortable using.

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This article originally appeared in TSAC Report, the NSCA’s quarterly, online-only publication geared toward the training of tactical athletes, operators, and facilitators. It provides research-based articles, performance drills, and conditioning techniques for operational, tactical athletes. The TSAC Report is only available for NSCA Members. Read more articles from TSAC Report 

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References

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7. McLellan, TM, and Selkirk, GA. The management of heat stress for the firefighter: A review of work conducted on behalf of the Toronto Fire Service. Industrial Health 44(3): 414-426, 2006.
8. Phillips, M, Payne, W, Lord, C, Netto, K, Nichols, D, and Aisbett, B. Identification of physically demanding tasks performed during bushfire suppression by Australian rural firefighters. Applied Ergonomics 43(2): 435-441, 2012.
9. Rodriguez-Marroyo, JA, Lopez-Satue, J, Pemia, R, Carballo, B, Garcia-Lopez, J, Foster, C, and Villa, JG. Physiological work demands of Spanish wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 85(2): 221-228, 2011.
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John R. Bennett, MS

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John Bennett is the co-developer and chair of the Florida Firefighter Fitness Collaborative, an organization that focuses on agency-to-agency cooperat ...

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