MICHAEL A. CONTRERAS is a captain and former wellness and fitness coordinator for the Orange County, CA, Fire Authority (OCFA). He has held many different assignments for the OCFA, including training officer, recruit academy instructor, academy fitness coordinator, academy coordinator, department safety officer, hazardous material specialist and assistant public information officer and is a member of the department’s urban search and rescue (USAR) team. Contreras is also a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Peer Fitness Trainer. He discusses this series of columns in the September “Firehouse® Magazine Insider” at Firehouse.com/podcasts.