Re: Physical Conditioning for EMS personnel

December 15, 1999

It may have an impact on how the person is percieved in public, but as long

as the " EMS Professional " is able to perform his/her job & provide proper

patient care, then I do not see as the " EMS Professionals " condition should

be a major focus. If they can't perform the job, that is one thing, but

just because they are percieved to be out of shape does not mean they are.

If you are refering to weight, then we all have our problems. You do not

have to be 6' tall & 180 lbs to be a good medic. If you look at me, you

may percieve me to " be out of shape " . I have no problems performing my job

as an EMT or a Police Officer. I may not be 180 lbs, with a 10% body fat,

but I can do just as good as they can.

Just because you " percieve " someone to be out of shape, does not mean they

really are that " out of shape " . I was told during an interview recently

for a police officer job (no city named) that the city manager did not like

" overweight people " (no joke). I asked them if they had a weight policy or

an agility test, and their reply was NO. I was called last week by that

department, and told I did not get the job.

FYI, I am not really considered " overweight " by my doctor, due to my size &

structure, but to the city manager who keeps the slim fast in his hand 24/7,

I was overweight.

It should not be how the person is percieved by the public due to their

shape, but how they perform in the field that counts.

Jay

[texasems-L] Physical Conditioning for EMS personnel

> I have a question. Should the " EMS Professionals " be in proper

> physical condition. I have seen throughout my career several people

> who I may perseive as being " out of shape. " Does the physical

> condition of the EMS professional have an impact on how he/she is

> perceived by the public? Let me know what you think. Thanks for the

> opportunity.

>

> Tindell

>

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