Firehouse World 2019 Firefighter Longevity Exercise Nutrition Tiffany Lipsey

There are certain areas firefighters will typically explore in order to give themselves a better chance at having a long and healthy career, with fitness and continuing their training among the most frequent.

But how often does a firefighter explore other areas such as nutrition, emotional needs or social interaction? These factors can all play just as important a role as any other in career longevity.

In her Firehouse World session "Aged to Perfection: Longevity in the Fire Service," clinical exercise physiologist Tiffany Lipsey spoke about seven key factors that all firefighters should take into consideration to stay healthy both physically and mentally while maximizing their potential during a long career.

Feet, Forks & Fingers

Lipsey, who directs the Heart Disease Prevention Program at Colorado State University, made the focus of the session's early portion on some of the leading causes of firefighter deaths, with cardiovascular disease, heart attack and cancer sitting at the top.

The three main factors Lipsey says all firefighters should focus on are related to Feet (exercise), Forks (food) & Fingers (smoking). If proper fitness, a healthy diet and staying away from cigarettes were a priority, Lipsey says we could eliminate these deaths, which make up about 80 percent of the total.

"This is where we're missing the boat on cancer, for example, is we're not doing enough in the lifestyle stuff," Lipsey said. "Our people are very much into deconning their gear and making sure nothing dirty comes into the building, but are we exercising like we're supposed to?"

Exercise helps create antioxidants that kill cancer-causing carcinogens, and you can absorb the same antioxidants by eating more fruits and vegetables. The benefits of staying away from cigarettes need not be explained, but the issue of smokeless tobacco remains a problem in some regions more than others.

Seven Areas to Target

Moving beyond the three main factors that can help eliminate a large number of fatalities due to cardiac events, cancer and stroke, Lipsey moved into an overall lifestyle and career approach that hones in on seven skill areas for development and improvement:

Intellectual
Emotional
Physical
Occupational
Financial
Spiritual
Social

"I want you to try and rate yourself in all of these areas," Lipsey said. "Ask yourself how well you're doing in these areas and if there is any need for improvement."

Clinical exercise physiologist Tiffany Lipsey speaks to Firehouse World attendees in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

Intellectual: This is broken down into personal and organizational intellect, and developing different skills that can serve both categories. Things such as reading up on advances in training, some that benefit you personally and others that can improve your organization, are a prime example. Above all else, the development of critical thinking skills will help on the job more than simply memorizing a set of facts.

Emotional: "Checkup from the neck up," was the operative phrase for this area. A firefighter needs to be open to exploring and trying to understand what they are feeling about the work they do, the things they see when doing that work, and how they are processing it. Seeking out help when you're struggling, be it through an understanding professional or a peer support program, is extremely important. Verbalize instead of internalize.

Physical: Being familiar with national health standards such as NFPA 1582 can help toward building a fitness regimen that works not just for your organization as a whole but for each firefighter individually. Also, some firefighters as they age and move up in rank are called on to do less labor-intensive activity, which can lead to scaling back on fitness training. Making sure that you continue exercising, eating healthy, getting the right amount of sleep and having frequent medical checks can go a long way toward prolonging your career and your life.

Occupational: The big question a firefighter needs to ask is "Why do I do this?" Developing a better understanding of why you chose to join the fire service will help you better job performance and career longevity. Making strides in this area can stimulate a desire to improve, give focus to training and better equip firefighters to cope with the stresses of work. And always remember that this involves taking a break, so never leave any vacation time on the table.

Financial: Firefighters need to have a plan and goals for what their financial life is like. Do you have a mortgage? A retirement plan? Does your department offer a pension? What comes after that? Looking beyond the work and focusing on the life you want after retirement can be a key factor in achieving success. It's not so much looking past the job at the expense of the moment. It's motivating to know what life goals you are working toward beyond your career.

Spiritual: This area does not necessarily have to incorporate religious views, although it can for anyone who holds such beliefs and gains personal meaning from them. Things that we can also consider "spiritual" can be things in life that help you find a sense of peace or purpose or belonging. We can feel a sense of belonging through camaraderie with our peers, find purpose through the work we do or find peace through love and family. Define "spiritual" for yourself.

Social: This area focuses on the relationships you develop, both professionally and personally. How well do you communicate and who are you communicating with? Studies show that people who form meaningful relationships with others have up to a 50 percent longer lifespan than those who don't. Having meaningful relationships is, in essence, as good for your personal and professional health as diet and exercise.

"These areas are not designed to get rid of people," Lipsey said when an attendee brought up the resistance to change in the fire service and how testing can be viewed negatively. "They're designed to make people stay."