Re: Physical Conditioning for EMS personnel

[Guest guest]

In shape & in peak shape are two different things. I do not mean you can be

700 lbs and have no muscular capability at all. I went to the TDCJ academy

with a guy that weighed over 500 lbs, and was 5'2 " . He was not in the

shape to be a correctional officer. I do not mean you can be in that

condition (extremely obese, with no strength). The guy I was at TDCJ with

was retired from the State School, and was in his mid 60's, and every time

he moved was a challenge for him. He could not even breathe. When we

were doing excercises during PT, we were touching our toes (he could not

even see his, much less touch them).

That is not the kind of shape I am talking about being acceptable. How

would he make it to the 3rd floor of a prison unit during a riot w/out

falling out due to his physical condition.

I do believe that we should be able to do what ever needs to be done as our

job requires. I did not get the job in the city I talked about in my last

message because I could not perform the job of a police officer. The Chief

said he knew I could do the job & what it required. However, the city

manager does not like " overweight " people, and the hiring decision lied with

him.

I am also working on my weight & trying to get in shape........ Guess I

will miss Christmas dinner (NOT). I will keep working in between now &

then, so it won't hurt as bad to " eat a little good food " on Christmas Day!

Jay

[texasems-L] Re: Physical Conditioning for EMS personnel

> Well, Jay, you are my friend but I am going to have to disagree with you

to a

> certain point. I do believe that as EMS professionals we should be " in

> shape. " We should be physically able to perform whatever duty physically

may

> be required of us in any emergency situation. Let me give you just one

> example. I am certain there are many, many more but this is the first one

> that came to my mind.

>

> DFW Airport has 3 control towers in operation. An electrician was working

on

> the very top level of the west tower during its construction. He fell and

> substained a very bad spinal injury. Now, there is no elevator going all

the

> way to the top of the control tower. One must take several flights of

> spiraling stairs to get to that level. The man was a very large man.

After

> packaging the patient on the backboard with proper spinal immobilization,

it

> was necessary for the EMS crew to carry the patient down the several

flights

> of stairs on the backboard. This was quite physically demanding. It is

my

> opinion that if the EMS personnel were not in good physical condition the

job

> would have been much more difficult and much time could have been wasted.

As

> it was, the crew was in good shape and were able to get the patient down

from

> the top of the control tower to the MICU and transported in a reasonable

and

> proper time.

> I don't believe that the original writer was referring totally to

" weight. "

> I have seen many very heavy persons who where in good physical shape. But

> then we have all seen very small people in pitiful physical condition.

What

> I believe he was referring to was a state of physical conditioning which

> would enable the EMS person to do their duties in a proper and rapid

manner

> without endangering the patient or themselves in time of stress. This

should

> be all of our goal not only in EMS but also in law enforcement and fire

> fighting.

>

> I believe that we should each try to maintain a level of physical

> conditioning and readiness which will prepare us for any situation which

may

> arise in our day to day duties as EMS providers. If this requires

running,

> lifting weights, dieting, or whatever, we should strive to be in

reasonably

> good physical condition.

> I have to agree with you on this point. It is important how we perform in

> the field that counts. But how many extremely overweight, obese people

have

> you seen in EMS and other public safety fields? Many, I am sure. Now

lets

> consider the cardiac danger potential of these extremely overweight or out

of

> shape individuals. I know that I hope I don't have to work on my partner

who

> falls out on me during a medical emergency that the two of us may be

working.

> One patient is enough!!

>

> I hope that you can see, Jay, that what I am saying is we should not have

to

> be Arnold Schwarzenneger (spelling) or " Rambo " but we can still be in good

> physical and emotional condition and in a condition of readiness at all

> times. This should be our goal as well as providing the very best

possible

> EMS care possible. >

>

>

> These are just my thoughts and not of my dog. He is asleep.

>

> Have a great day!

>

> ,

> slightly overweight paramedic, but I'm working on it!!!!!