Find it tough to keep fit and healthy? Take inspiration from the fire-fighters' health and fitness expert

Many people seem to have an idea that fire-fighters are invincible or superhuman, and to many members of the public they can really become hero figures. The reality of it is that they are as normal as you and I. They suffer the same stresses of everyday life that we all do and are exposed to the same, if not greater risks to their general health that we are. This is where I come in. My name is Ian Hammett and I am the Service Fitness Advisor for Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service. I suppose you could say it is my job to try and help the fire-fighters keep fit and healthy so that they can help the general public as and when needed.

My role within the service is to assist the fire-fighters and the office staff in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, both at work and home. As firefighters have to work in extreme conditions which put the body under a great deal of physical strain therefore it is important that they sustain a high level of personal fitness. We provide gyms in all of our stations throughout the county which are free for the staff to use.

They contain a selection of equipment ranging from treadmills and bikes to dumbbells and weights machines. This equipment allows the firefighters to keep themselves in shape as well as improving their fitness. Exercise and physical training sessions are a great way for fire-fighters to build team spirit, as well as maintain a healthy lifestyle. For many people, exercise is also a great stress relief and allows them to develop the strength of character to deal with everyday situations, as well as release any pent up frustrations they may have. Working as part of a team provides you with the experience of working together for a common aim, whether that is scoring a goal in football or winning a game of hockey. Each person has a role within the group and it is a great way for people to learn how to interact with each other. These skills can be essential to help you get through everyday life

Being healthy doesn’t just mean keeping fit, it is important that we eat a good diet as well. It is my job to provide nutritional advice to all personnel within the service on various topics such as losing weight, eating a balanced diet, and what is and isn’t good for you. With so many junk foods available today and obesity on the rise, as well as more young people being concerned about body image it is important to educate people on the importance of eating healthily and how it can be done.

Eating a good diet can provide you with greater amounts of energy, can act as a brain booster for exams, and can make you more alert and attentive as a person. People who tend to eat a poor diet, have fluctuating energy levels, and a short attention span. Eating badly can also to lead to poor health; with conditions like coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer all being affected by diet. The poorer your diet, the higher the risk of suffering from one of these conditions later in life.Smoking and alcohol are two other products that play a big part in people’s health. I spend time highlighting the damage that these two can do to your health. Doing these things to excess can promote things such as liver failure, lung disease and poor health and fitness.

	As well as the health promotion and the exercise that we do, I also look after injuries that the personnel may suffer with. I provide specialist treatment to muscle injuries and postural problems that can help people return to work quickly following ill health or an injury.

My days as you can probably tell are jam packed looking after everyone. I go from one person to the next trying to keep everyone fit and healthy. It is a tough job but at the end of the day I have enough energy to get down to the gym or go and play football myself to ensure that I have the fitness to cope with helping everyone else. Remember it is important to keep yourself fit and healthy otherwise you can’t help others. Making small changes in your lifestyle now can really affect your health and fitness in the long term, so look at what you do in your spare time then try to be as active as possible, join a local club, team or gym and start improving your health and wellbeing.Go on…give it a go!!

To find out more about Bedfordshire and Luton Fire & Rescue Service, click here to visit the Hotline page.