Hastings Fire Department

TACTICAL FITNESS AND WELLNESS RESOURCE PAGE

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Great resources and workouts to help you improve your performance, reduce injuries, and prolong your career with HFD.

28-DAY CATALYST PROGRAM THUMB FOR WEBPAGE

Get this 28-day Workout Program from FRF that will help you lose weight, gain strength, and improve your overall health and fitness.

Time to start training like a fire rescue athlete.  FRF is offering a free 28-day workout program to help you lose weight, gain strength and take your fitness to the next level.  The program includes access to the FRF tracking app, eating guides, coaching, and more.  It is FREE for all HFD members.  Give it a try!

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Firehouse Fresh- Recipes designed to fuel hungry firefighters.

Designed by registered dieticians, these recipes are easy to prepare and healthy for your crew. Give them a try!

 

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Addicted to Awake: Sleep Deprivation in the Fire Service

The hard truth is that almost 40 percent of firefighters suffer from a sleep disorder. According to a screening of 6,933 firefighters, 80 percent of those who tested positive had no prior awareness or previous diagnosis of their condition. This is a growing concern in the fire service.

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Health & Fitness: Fitness for the Fire Attack

Here is a great article to help you prepare for the basement fire scenario.   Advancing charged hoseline and fire attack are some of the most physically demanding activities we do on the fire ground.   Make sure you are strong, mobile, and ready for the fire attack with these great exercises.

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Functional Fitness for the Fire Service

Click the link below to obtain a copy of the presentation and slides from Aaron Zamzow's seminar on Functional Fitness for the Fire Service.

Additional Resources for you and your crew.

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Foam Rolling Guide for the Fire Service

Muscles sore and tight from a previous shift or workout?  Have you tried foam rolling?  The compressed foam pieces floating around all the stations might just be the fitness tool you need to start feeling and moving better. 

Summary of Foam Rolling Positions
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Five Steps to Better Nutrition

Eating in the firehouse or any house can be a challenge.  This guide simplifies nutrition and gives easy to follow and applicable steps to help you "clean up" your diet and lean up. This manual includes:

-Five easy to follow guidelines to get you lean and “fit for duty.”
-Nutrition Hacks that will help you prepare and plan healthy meals
-Healthy Snack Options to insure you stay on track
-The 90-10 Eating Plan.  Teaches you how to plan your "cheat meals" and stay on-track with your nutrition.
-Example meal plan

Additional Resources for you and your crew

Top 21 Reasons First Responders Need to Exercise (Numbers 1-10).

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Sep 13, 2021

As a first responder, you need to face the fact that exercise and good health are essential for performance and career longevity. Here are 21 reasons that confirm why every first responder needs to consistently exercise.

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Try this FRF 5K (+343 reps) Virtual Workout

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Aug 25, 2021

FRF has created the 5K the FRF way virtual workout event to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Join the event and give this workout a try. Get fit and give back to the fire service. #GETFRF

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First Responder Fitness: Stay Motivated with These Tips

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Aug 18, 2021

The key to maintaining and making fitness progress is to make sure you focus on keeping your mind right and staying consistent with your workouts. These tips will help any firefighter, EMT, and/or medic overcome a lack of motivation and continually make fitness progress.

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Tips to help control portions in (and out) of the Firehouse.

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Jul 12, 2021

Portion control is a challenge for many first responders. Vast quantities of unhealthy foods along with busy shifts make it difficult. Here are some tips from FRF that will help you control portions and your hunger to eat too much.

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First Responders- Burn Calories and Improve mobility with this Memorial Day Workout Option

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 May 30, 2021

Firefighters, EMTs and Medics, earn your Memorial Day carbohydrates with this highly metabolic workout. This is a great option for the firehouse (or home) to help burn calories and improve mobility. Give it a try! #GETFRF

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Build Cardio Conditioning and Fight Fireground Fatigue with this Workout Addition

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Apr 14, 2021

Here is a great way to incorporate fireground “functional” movements into your workouts. Improve your cardiovascular conditioning and improve performance.

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FRF Stuffed Peppers

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Mar 15, 2021

Looking for a quick, tasty, and healthy recipe for your crew and family? Try the FRF Stuffed Peppers, they satisfy every taste!

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The Best First Responder Workout Programs Have These Components.

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Feb 26, 2021

Workout programs should help first responders perform better on and off the fire/ rescue scene, reduce chances of injury and ultimately prolong their career. Properly planned programs will do this, especially if they contain these components. Read this great post from Fire Rescue Fitness.

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First Responders- DO YOU NEED SUPPLEMENTS TO MAKE FITNESS PROGRESS?

By Aaron Zamzow (ZAM) | 2 Jan 27, 2021

What supplements should you take? Do you really need to take supplements to make progress? Common questions heard around a lot of gyms and firehouses. There are many things to consider, take a look at this post for some great information and answers…

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Why do Firefighters Have Heart Attacks?

Heart attack and strokes are more likely to kill firefighters than an actual fire. A recent research article just confirmed one of the major reasons why. The research confirms that the physical demands of firefighting may trigger the formation of blood clots and impair blood vessel function -- two factors associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. (You can read more about that research by clicking here.) 

Improve YOUR Sleep.

Firefighters often don't get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to real problems, including safety concerns.  For anyone who has worked in the fire service, this is hardly news. One of the most difficult adjustments for new firefighters can be the shift work: the 10/14 split, the 24- or 48-hour workday. As firefighters age, sleep disorders can lead to serious health problems for them. Click here to read about the "7 Ways to improve your crew's sleep and safety

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Why Firefighters Need YOGA

The truth of the matter is yoga can be as mellow or as arduous as you make it, just like any physical practice. The beauty of yoga is that it goes beyond just the physical. For firefighter’s yoga can be a really great way to relieve stress and center the body and mind. This is especially important considering the high stress of the job. Yoga, if you allow it to be so, could be one of the best ways to combat PTSD.

 

Click here to discover 5 Reasons Why Every Firefighter Should do Yoga.  (Click here for the article.) 

Goblet Squat for more Fireground Strength

 We all know that stairs and climbing are major fire rescue movements performed on the fire ground so… improve your leg strength and you could improve your performance on the fire ground. One exercise is very good at doing just that…. the goblet squat. The goblet squat is a multi-joint lower body exercise that fires up (no pun intended) the glutes, quads, and hamstrings.   Unlike the traditional back squat, the goblet squat is executed by keeping the body in an upright position, which results in less strain on the lower lumbar and spine and places an increased demand on your upper back and core. Goblet squats also help improve mobility in the hip, thus helping you out with other fire rescue movement patterns.  Click here for a great tutorial on the Goblet Squat

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If you have any questions, please reach out to Aaron (click here).