To reduce firefighter deaths and injuries, the department physical program should include:

• A. Require the member to dead lift half their body weight
• B. Include cardiovascular strength and flexibility
• C. Fitness testing that increases each year of service
• D. Cross-fit type activities

Answer: (B)

A department’s physical program should build endurance and mobility to safely meet the demands of firefighting. Cardiovascular fitness is essential because firefighting tasks are often prolonged and occur in hot, restrictive gear; strong aerobic capacity helps sustain effort, delays fatigue, and can reduce the risk of heat strain and cardiac events under stress. Flexibility supports safe movement through a wide range of tasks—lifting, carrying heavy equipment, crawling, bending, reaching, and maneuvering in tight spaces—by reducing strains and improving body mechanics in protective gear. When both endurance and mobility are developed, firefighters are better prepared to perform critical actions with less risk of injury.

Focusing on a single heavy lift, or on prescriptive styles of training without addressing overall endurance and mobility, doesn’t align with the real-world demands of the job. Programs that push aggressive, one-size-fits-all fitness tests or rely solely on specific workout modalities can raise injury risk or fail to prepare all members adequately. A balanced approach that emphasizes cardiovascular conditioning and flexibility directly targets the most common pathways to reduced deaths and injuries on the job.