Some fire companies in Berks paying more attention to wellness
When the call went out at Washington Towers, Reading firefighters sprang into action, loading up with equipment and climbing 12 flights to douse flames.
The Jan. 4 fire in one of the city’s tallest buildings showed how stressful and physically demanding the occupation can be for both professional firefighters like those in Reading and volunteer departments throughout Berks County.
It’s no wonder that year after year, national statistics show that heart attacks are the leading cause of death among active firefighters.
With that in mind, some Berks County fire companies are taking steps to improve health by creating wellness programs, installing fitness equipment and requiring volunteers to get annual physicals.
Exercise, testing pay off
The Goodwill fire Company of Hyde Park started a wellness program in 2006 using a $60,000 state grant.
The company bought a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a stationary bicycle and weight-lifting equipment.
The program includes free annual physicals and blood tests for firefighters and support volunteers. The tests check blood sugar and cholesterol, heart rate, respiration, hearing and vision. Personnel over 40 also get an electrocardiogram.
If health risks are found, volunteers are referred to their family doctor for further evaluation.
At first, there was some grumbling about the testing, but now most members are thankful for the physical, several Goodwill officers said. The company didn’t lose any volunteers with the new requirement.
“It’s worked out really good,” first Deputy Chief Dean a. Yeager said. “It’s helped some people find out they have some health issue they need to correct.”
One volunteer discovered he had diabetes. Another found out he had mild heart problems. They followed up with family doctors.
Barry Yeager, a member of the support crew, discovered a lung problem.
“I would have never known this if it was not for the physical here,” he said.
As for the free in-house gym, about 40 percent of the active Goodwill volunteers regularly work out.
Fighting fires is stressful and it demands that you be in good shape, company Vice President Mike Patton said.
“Fitness should be a priority,” he said.
Second Deputy Chief Dyke Yeager cut back on iced tea and soda, started working out regularly and dropped 20 pounds since Christmas.
“I feel 100 percent better,” he said.
The program has been so successful that when the money from the grant ran out, the Muhlenberg Township Fireman’s Relief Association covered the annual cost of about $8,000.
Time, money create obstacles
In Berks County, fire officials constantly find that new firefighter candidates have two health issues that present a problem with training: cardiovascular health and lack of upper body strength, said Brian a. Gottschall, deputy director of Berks County Department of Emergency Services. But fixing those health issues takes time.
“The problem you have is limited time and limited resources,” Gottschall said. “These departments have to make tough decisions in where they invest their time and resources.”
Spring Township fire Department has a combination of paid and volunteer firefighters, and sometimes it’s difficult to make time for healthy eating and exercise for both groups.
“Unfortunately, it’s probably not the number one or number two priority,” Spring fire Commissioner John H. Schach Jr. said. “Firefighter safety is the most important. a lot of times that (healthy eating and exercise) will take a back seat.”
Spring Township received a state grant five years ago to buy fitness equipment for the central fire station and offer physicals.
Each volunteer is asked to undergo a free physical once every two years, and several potential cardiac or respiratory problems have been discovered. those firefighters are asked to do other things during an emergency, and refrain from physically fighting fires, Schach said.
“They’re not real happy because a firefighter wants to fight a fire,” he said.
Since the grant ran out, the department has footed the annual $14,000 bill for the physicals.
“The last thing I want them to do on the scene of a fire is to drop dead of a heart attack,” Schach said. “It’s dangerous enough.”
Study points to risks
A 2007 Harvard University study showed that firefighters battling blazes faced up to 100 times the normal risk of a heart-related death.
The risk increases, the study suggested, because firefighters who already have heart disease or risk factors are stressed even more by the exertion of fighting a fire.
The Reading fire Department, Berks County’s largest, doesn’t have a mandatory wellness program, but most stations have equipment for working out during downtime, said fire Chief William H. Rehr III. The department also gives firefighters free YMCA memberships.
Doing something more, such as administering physicals, has been discussed through the years. But the cost for a department with more than 100 firefighters is prohibitive.
And what happens if a serious problem is found?
“Will you go on disability, or are we going to fire you?” Rehr said. “That’s always been an issue.”
Volunteer companies, which are struggling with declining membership, face other challenges in setting requirements for people who are donating their time.
The Robesonia fire Company bought two weight benches and a weight-lifting machine a year ago and installed a basketball hoop at the station.
That’s one way to improve the firefighters’ health, even though their time is stretched.
“It’s something that we all need to work on a lot more,” Robesonia Chief Dave Tillinger said of staying fit. “How do you make it work? How do you set your priorities? I haven’t been able to find the answers.
“It’s a challenge. How do you make a volunteer do what you need to do?”
Contact Erin Negley: 610-371-5047 or enegley@readingeagle.com.
Some fire companies in Berks paying more attention to wellness