Benefits of Stretching

Unlike athletes firefighters and other first responders don't know when "game time" will be. It could be at 7am or it could be at 11pm but in any case we need to ensure we are at our best when the alarm goes off. As we know, we cannot predict when runs will come in and when they won't but preparation of our bodies before and during shift is just as equally as important as preparing our gear, tools and apparatus. Further, being able to wind down after runs is just as important as preparing for the shift and the potential call volume. This will help prepare the mind and body for work.

So where am I going with this?

I'm going with a focus on stretching. That's right. Stretching.

Stretching, even a short routine, added to your daily routine is a great benefit for overall health and wellness and pays off large dividends. It could be used as a pre-workout or a post-workout routine or both. Stretching can help unwind and release tension after a hectic day or even a long duration run as well as assist in increasing energy levels.

Here are some health benefits to stretching that help can keep you on the path for a long shift in the firehouse and overall better health.

1. Improves flexibility and agility which is important for all firefighters
2. Helps keep a decreased resting heart rate. A health heart is vital for all firefighters
3. Increases the circulation of blood and oxygen to the muscles
4. Helps remove waste from tissues such as lactic acid which is built up during intense exercise. Sometimes causing painful, sore muscles.
5. Helps prevent injuries
6. Increases overall mood and well-being.

Stretching at its best could be used a form of exercise for the body and mind. Keep in mind to only stretch as far as your current level of flexibility and over time the range of motion will gradually increase.

6 Stretches to do everyday to help improve flexibility, blood circulating, oxygen levels, relieve stress and tension. Do all 6, three times for 15-30 seconds each.

1. Quadricep stretch

2. Hamstring stretch

3. Calf raise

4. Spinal twist

5. Kneeling hip-flexor

6. Chest opener

Always remember, before beginning any type of exercise program to consult with your primary physician first.

Side note: As per the 2018 NFPA Journal on firefighter injuries, there was an estimated 58K plus injuries estimated in 2018 and also the lowest since the NFPA has been analyzing this data in 1981. In this report it was noted that the major type of injury during fire ground operations were strains and sprains, which accounted for 38% of all injuries while it accounted for 59% of all non-fire ground injuries.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Avoid Exhaustion through Healthy Eating

Exhaustion and burn out are common in all jobs. It's inevitable not to feel exhausted or burnt out from time to time and that's OK. Exhaustion can begin long before the end of shift or the end of your day. Again, that too is OK. When thinking about it and looking at the cause, is it because of the workload? Personal issues? Health? Let's look at the latter. 

As they say, "you are what you eat" and that is in fact true. We can work out all we want. We can lift weights, do bodyweight exercises, cardio, train in our PPE and still feel burnt out and exhausted. Why is that? Simply, it's our nutrition. What we eat has a direct relation to our energy levels and our diet plays a large role in how we produce energy to function through our day.

If in doubt, ask yourselves these 2 questions: 

1. Do I have the right amounts of food in my diet?

2. Am I consuming a diet filled with enough nutrients?

By choosing the right nutrients to consumer in our diets will greatly impact how we maintain and keep energized throughout the day.

Nutrient Dense Foods

Focus on consuming lean meats, whole grains, healthy fats, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Two key nutrients known to help the body produce energy are Magnesium (also good for headaches) and vitamin B. These 2 nutrients can be found in foods such as spinach, avocados, and bananas.

Regularly Eating

Eating small meals every 3-4 hours (if possible) will help in fueling our metabolism and keeping you energized and full.

It starts with Breakfast

Having a nutritious breakfast consisting of healthy proteins (eggs, chicken, almonds, lean meats, etc.), complex carbs (longer to breakdown and provides lasting energy levels such as oats and wheat) with some fruits and vegetables will fuel your body and mind to begin your day properly.

Smart Snacking

Snacking is good if it's done wisely. Nutritious snacking should contain lean protein and fiber-rich carbohydrates to provide lasting energy. Have an apple, nuts, seeds, carrots, or low fat Greek yogurt. Snacks are not intended to fill you up, but to simply bridge the gap from one meal to the next while keeping you energized.

Hydrate

When we feel like we need energy, it's easy to pick up and energy drink or coffee. However, most caffeinated drinks are filled with added sugars which could cause a spike in blood sugar levels and add to a mid-late day crash. Further, dehydration plays a role in fatigue and exhaustion. Swap in the sugary drinks for water and eliminate the added sugars and unwanted/needed calories.

Keys to Hydrations

Hydration varies from person to person. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:

About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men

About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20 percent of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks. Remember, proper nutrition throughout the day will assist in daily hydration. Some examples of foods for hydration are watermelon & spinach (almost 100% water by weight)cucumber, broths/soups and herbal teas to name a few.

The next time you're in need of a boost or a quick pick me up consider the options mentioned above on shift or at home. The more nutritious foods we put in our bodies the better we are able to perform.  Stay ready instead of have to get ready. It starts with you. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Prepare to Perfrom

We are only as good as our last performance but we are also only as we prepare ourselves to be. Preparation begins long before the call comes in. It even begins before any preplanning is done and crew training. It's done, with one's own self. It's called knowing your job and performing it as if it's the championship game each time you're working. Each firefighter is responsible for their assignments and should know their job better than anyone else. On the flipside, each member of the crew should know their fellow firefighters responsibilities just as well as their own. Without knowing and understanding your role and roles around you even knowing the role above you, success is much harder to achieve and days with lower manpower will impact the rate of success.  

Some will say strategic planning is something for the command and company officers to worry about. I disagree, this is something each firefighter needs to be thinking about in some capacity. Without it, responsibilities cannot be done as efficiently and voids cannot be easier filled. When looking at this in a sports perspective, the great dynasty teams all had one common denominator, great preparation and an understanding of each other's roles. If we take the New England Patriots who won 3 Super Bowls from 2014 until now went by the mantra "Do Your Job" which stood for one thing, know your responsibilities better than anyone else on the field and understand the big picture that is looking to be achieved. By doing this, success will come. The same goes for the fire service. The more each member of the crew knows and the better they prepare, the easier a day on the fire ground becomes.

Here are a few steps on how to prepare to perform.

1. Know your role and own it. Be able to understand and explain to others the ins and outs of your role clearly. 

2. Know and understand the other responsibilities of your crew. This helps become multi-dimensional and can easily back fill other roles should there be a short staff or other circumstances that may arise.

3. Consistently train on your responsibilities and rotate through training on other responsibilities as well. By doing so, it bridges any gaps and helps develop a more unified crew. Example using engine company ops: On a 4 man engine, there's an officer (assumes back-up role), driver, nozzle firefighter and control firefighter (also assumes hydrant duty).  This is a prime example of how firefighters are responsible to one role and yet assumes another role. Continually practice in such roles plays dividends when it is used in the field. 

• Use your resources such as google maps to get aerial views, side views and street views of buildings you want to have specific plans for and even use it for the frequent flyers. Never take anything for granted.

• Develop a plan and train on it consistently and then develop contingencies and train on those. 

• Ensure all crew members understand the strategies and tactics and can clearly explain them. This helps show everyone is clear on the assignments. 

Preparation is key to successful fire ground performance. How you prepare is how you perform. Train accordingly.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

A New Decade

As we enter a new year, a new decade, we want to say thank you to all of our friends, followers and partners we’ve had throughout our journey and those we gained this year. Each and every one of you has helped us become better at what we do and helped us provide meaningful content to the fire service.

The next year will be a great year for us as well add more speaking engagements to our list and look forward to spreading our message to more people and more departments.

Without any of you, we couldn’t do what we do. When we started this, we didn’t expect the type of support and response we’ve received and we are wholeheartedly grateful for that.

From all of us here at The Firehouse Tribune, have a happy, healthy and safe New Year.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

-FHTribune Staff

Dedication and Commitment

In order to be in the fire service, each person needs to have a level of dedication to the job and a level of respect for the job. A few years while training in marital arts I had the opportunity to train with a professional MMA fighter, who at the time was in the UFC. Currently, this fighter who I won't mention is now retired from active competition. During this time, I would only train on the techniques while at school I trained at 3 days a week. That was until I met and trained with this pro fighter who did train with former UFC Middleweight and Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. While training with him, I learned tons of techniques, gain valuable tips and other tidbits of information I could use in competitions and also in other facets of my life especially as a firefighter. Along with the information he shared, he asked me one question. "How would I train if no one was watching?" He went on further to say, because we all want to put on a show when the cameras are on us. After that conversation, those words had me reevaluate my training to see if I had that same level of enthusiasm and dedication as I did when I was training by myself or with other people outside the MMA gym and off the baseball field. To be honest, it wasn't as fulfilling and once our training was over, that question changed my course and enhanced my personal wellbeing and dedication to my crafts. 

Why am I telling this story? Because just as a professional athlete will train with or without an audience, us too as firefighter should train. 

This fighter made mention that no matter where he was training he dedicated himself 100% each time he was in there. It didn't matter if the coaches were around or he was alone, he made sure it was everything he had for that session. Cellphones, selfies and social media were nonexistent to him while he was training and for obviously reasons, the work paid off and never took any of it for granted.

Since those training sessions, I took that advise and used it for myself as a firefighter and would like to share them with you. 

Dedicate yourself to the job in the firehouseand also when out of the firehouse. Utilize as many resources as you could to better yourself as a firefighter. Do not just attend certification courses at a fire academy but also read educational books (which my book shelf is now loaded with), understand the changes in the service and how you could adapt to them. To go even further, attend fire service conferences with or without departmental funding so you could attend seminars, see new advancements and network. Networking pay huge dividends when it comes to advancing yourself and gaining wealth's of knowledge from fire service leaders. Also, read and stay on top of NIOSH reports in order to understand the line of duty deaths and the findings reported after the investigations. Make your body your machine and develop a healthy lifestyle through physical and mental fitness along with proper nutrition for an optimal lifestyle worthy of the functionally fit firefighter. Always ask yourself, would you want YOU rescuing YOU? 

Fire doesn't care of your status, career, part time, per diem or volunteer so why should you train yourself as if it's a job I just need to get through to retirement or a volunteer gig I do as a hobby?

Think about why you started with in the first place. What made you sign up for this?

To be successful and dedicated to the fire service it takes hundreds of thousands of hours of dedication and commitment to the books, in the gym, in the firehouse and on your own time to be a battle ready, battled tested firefighter. The time to prepare isn't when the bell rings because then it's too late. To be battle ready is to always stay battle ready. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 17 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ, a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor, a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website. A martial arts practitioner and former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor, Functional Fitness Instructor and Nutrition Coach.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University, and a A.A.S in Liberal Arts - Business from Middlesex County College. Nick has spoken at the 2017 & 2018 Firehouse Expo in Nashville, TN as well as at numerous fire departments within NJ and fire service podcasts.

Blank Slate

This past year my wife and I were blessed to welcome the birth of our first child. For those who are parents know the thoughts that go through your mind; joy, excitement, nervousness, and worry just to name a few. The last 7 months have been the most amazing and important yet difficult time we’ve ever experienced.

Each day we watch our son grow, learn and take on life. He learns a little more and more about himself and us each day and us the same about him. The one thing I’ve noticed as he discovers life and becomes his own little person is his impressionable innocence. Everything he’s exposed to and everything he’s taught is absorbed like a sponge.

The same is true for those entering the fire service. New recruits come in as an empty slate who, for the most part don't know anyone or how anything works and will absorb everything they hear, see and read like a sponge. In order to keep the fire service family and brotherhood alive, it is upon us, the current generation to do our best to not allow any negative emotions or feelings towards a fellow firefighter and departmental policies be absorbed by the newer generations coming in. The best thing we could do is to look at the things we don't agree with and turn it into a positive remembering why we signed up for this job. Just like babies, new recruits are excited and have an eagerness to learn, grow and a hunger to prove themselves worthy of this job. So let's embrace the newer generations entering the fire service and show them that although there is downsides to what we do, we can always walk in with a smile on our face,  have an eagerness to learn and a willingness to always pay it forward with the hopes of developing the generations to come.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 17 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ, a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor, a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website. A martial arts practitioner and former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor, Functional Fitness Instructor and Nutrition Coach.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University, and a A.A.S in Liberal Arts - Business from Middlesex County College. Nick has spoken at the 2017 & 2018 Firehouse Expo in Nashville, TN as well as at numerous fire departments within NJ and fire service podcasts.

The Dance of Life

I'm sitting in my room, studying with an intensity I didn't know I had. It's the mid 1980's and I am in middle school. My mom and I had just moved from Philadelphia, PA to Augusta, GA for her first military assignment. It might as well be a different world. There aren’t any Philly cheesesteaks and sports teams that I’m used to seeing. Yet, in this very different place, there is one thing I feel connected to; the very thing I am so intently studying: Breakdancing.

Middle school is an age where I wanted to fit in and be cool. Being prolific in breakdancing isa ticket to coolness. I carefully read, and reread my beloved practice poster (yes, there is a practice poster for breakdancing). I watch and study MTV like a must-see webinar. And the movies! Oh, I watch every single one the day it is released. Now, I’m not really all that good. Dreamsof being a dancer on a rap video are just dreams. But I can spin around on my head and not get sent to the hospital. I work at honing these skills leading up to the next military assignmentthat my mom and I take to Belgium, then Germany. During my high school years, I find to secure the social life I want, I amgoing to need to learn different dances for different occasions. Sure, breakdancing is a great fit for house parties, but what about the Semi-formal winter dance or the Formal Prom. If I amgoing to get dates and not look like a fool, I am going to need to dabble in the right kind of dancing to move my social life along.

Advancing your career with training and education is a lot like learning the right dance. All of the dances are great, but serve a different purpose.

• Dances at the house party is down to earth, wild, sometimes crazy or zany. In your career, this equates to training in the fire service. The drills for new people. Improving the skills of tenured people. Working with other stations and units. There is a general way it should be done, but there is room for creativity.

• Semi-formal dances have a bit more structure. These are your conferences, conventions, 1-3-day trainings. Going to regional schools. Going to FDIC and FRI. They are home grown classes that may have originated at the fire station, but are now on a bigger stage.

• Formal danceshave set expectations for how the event is happening. Dress like this. Move this way. These include official college certifications and formal classes such as Fire Officer I. They take more time and have a set structure. That structure allows for your education to be comparable to others across the world. It helps to measure your investment. It helps to increase your creditability.

Just like my dance life, you will do the most good for yourself by attending all the dances. Over reliance on station training may mean not keeping up with best practices. Over reliance on college and other formal training classes will lead to understanding theory, and not practical application. You are advancing your fire service life; your fire service career. Be sure to take part in training and education in all three parts to be ready for the big dances that are coming. And you won’t need to spin on your head, either!

Ordinary People Have Extraordinary Impact.

About the Author

 NICK BASKERVILLE Nick has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 18 years of fire service time, with 15 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and as one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. Nick is one of the many trainers for Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) to offer awareness and prevention training about cancer in the fire service. Nick has the honor of being one of the many contributors for The Firehouse Tribune.

Thank You for a Great 2018!

As 2018 comes to an end and we begin a new chapter in 2019, we would like to thank each and every one of our friends and supporters for all of the support and love they’ve shown us this year. It has been a great year as we’ve met with many new people and will continue to work along side them as we continue on our journey. 

We now embark on a new year. With a new year comes new challenges, new friends and new ways to keep our mission going. To all of those supporting us and following us, keep growing each and every day and continue to serve your community with honor, respect and humility. Remember those who have gone before us not just through words but through action. Challenge yourselves to achieve more and in that will come great success. 

Lastly, always remember to work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

From all of us here at The Firehouse Tribune, have a Happy, Healthy & Safe New Year. 

 - FHTribune Staff

Our Christmas Message

As we gather around the table with family and friends this holiday season, let us all remember those who are unable to be home for the holidays. Let us also remember to keep focusing on our goals, to keep training hard and keep staying true to our mission. It’s easy to stray from it all during the holidays but it’s also a time to keep the motivation going as you’re all surrounded by family and friends. 

From all of us here at The Firehouse Tribune, Nick H, Sean, Nick B, Dave & Nick W, have a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! See you all in 2019.  

Until Next Time; Work Hard, Stay Safe & Live Inspired. 

- FHTribune Staff

Discipline

We have all heard the word Discipline in many different ways through the course of our lives and careers. For those who listen to the Jocko Podcast know the worddiscipline to be used to explain freedom. As Jocko says, “Discipline Equals Freedom”. So what does discipline mean for us in the fire service?

Discipline can mean a lot ofdifferent things. It could mean an act to obey an order or a prescribed conduct/behavior. For me as a firefighter, discipline is doing the right thing even when it isn’t noticed by others and it also means always doing your job.

A disciplined firefighter is one that will take pride in his or her job at all times. This person will ensure they are alwaysmentally and physically ready for. They will make sure their uniform and gear is clean and ready to be worn when called upon. A disciplined firefighter will continually take pride in their job by washing the trucks and cleaning the station when needed. They will also tend to all the tools and equipment, ensuring they are clean, fueled, and 100% ready to go.

A disciplined firefighter will consistentlykeep training in many different ways. They will read books, articles, and do research on new tools, techniques, and advancements. They will also keep training their bodies physically to be fit for duty. They will make sure to set aside time for working out and eating right. For most, this will become a way of life and hopefully not just for them, but for their entire crew and family as well.

Perhaps most importantly a disciplined firefighter will share their knowledge and experiences with the younger members to instill a sense of pride and discipline into the new generation of emergency responders. This is critical because the younger generations look up to those of us who have been around for a long time. They tend to model their behavior and tendencies to that of the more experienced crew members. If we are sloppy, careless, and not disciplined they will also be. On the flip side, if we are squared away and disciplined they will be too.

When the bell goes off, everyone needs to know what is being asked of them and what their job is. When working on the fire ground everyone needs to work together to achieve the common goal of solving the problem presented. Being a disciplined firefighter will allow you to do your job efficiently so that everyone goes home.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

 About the Author

 NICHOLAS J. HIGGINSis a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ as well as NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and currently a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. A martial arts practitioner in Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai as well as a former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor, Nutrition Coach and studying for the Functional Fitness Instructor certification.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Improve Your Cholesterol, Improve Your Career

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death of both men and women in the United States. It’s also one the leading causes of death in firefighters and for more than 1 reason. However, in this article we are discussing it with its link to cholesterol. So what is cholesterol and what does it due to our bodies?

For starters, cholesterol is a fat found in your blood that is developed in the liver but your body can also receive it from meat, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and whole or low-fat milk. Everyone needs some cholesterol in their bodies in order to function properly such as your brain, skin and bodily organs. What cholesterol is doing for your body is acting a building block for your cells as well as helping repair damaged cells especially ones found in the blood vessels and the dietary tract.

If cholesterol is helping your body, why is it bad?

Well, foodhigh in additives, preservatives and other toxic processes will cause cells to become damaged and are most likely found in refined and processed carbohydrates. This will cause the cholesterol to flow around the blood and eventually cling onto the walls of your blood vessels, thus causing the vessels to become narrower as time goes on eventually clogging the vessels. A clogged vessel does not allow for proper blood flow through the vessel potentially causing a heart attack (lack of oxygen-rich blood)or stroke (decreased blood flow to thebrain) to name a few.

To be on top of our game and have long lasting career and life, we can as firefighters help ourselves and families to help improve our cholesterol levels.

1. Eat heart-healthy foods

a. Healthier Fats

i. Saturated fats, founds in red meat and dairy will raise your total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) also known as “bad” cholesterol. Rule of thumb: 7% or less of your daily caloric intake should be from saturated fats.

ii. Leaner cuts of meat such as London broil, top sirloin, chicken breast, 96% lean ground beef and pork tenderloin are other healthier options along with low-fat dairy and monounsaturated fats which is found in olive and canola oils.

b. Eliminate Trans Fats

i. Trans fats affect cholesterol levels by increasing LDL levels (“bad”) and lowering the (“good”) HDL levels. Trans fats can be found in fried foods and many processed foods such as cookies, crackers and snack cakes. In the U.S., food containing less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving is consider “trans fat-free”.

c. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

i. Omega-3’s don’t have an effect on LDL cholesterol (“bad”) however it does have heart benefits. Some benefits omega-3 has are helping to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”), reducing triglycerides (type of fat in blood) and reduces blood pressure.

ii. Types of fish rich in omega-3 are salmon, mackerel and herring. Other good sources include krill oil, walnuts and almonds.

d. Soluble Fiber

i. There are 2 types of fiber – soluble and insoluble. Although both have heart-health benefits, soluble fiber also helps to lower your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and all you’ll need to do is all a little more fiber to your diet.

ii. High in fiber foods are oats, fruits, beans, lentils and vegetables.

e. Whey Protein

i. Whey protein given as a supplement according to studies has shown to lower both LDL and total cholesterol. So if you’re in the gym, at home or in the firehouse working out and GETTING AFTER IT, don’t forget to include whey protein in your diet.

2. Exercise

i. Exercise has been known to improve cholesterol especially help raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Before engaging in any physical activities, please consult with your physician beforehand.

If you want a long, healthy and prosperous career and a long life with your family your health comes first. Protecting the front lines and take care of our own comes above all else. Please remember to consult with your physician before looking into any of these recommendations as this is for informational purposes.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ, a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. A martial arts practitioner in Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai as well as a former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor and studying for the Functional Fitness Instructor certification.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.  

The Unexpected Church Lesson

My kid, Baby Girl, is a church baby. If you're not familiar with what that is, allow me to explain. A church baby is a kid that,from birth, has been raised and mentored in all things church. And I mean ALL things. He or she in the church children's choir, even if the "gift" of singing isn't theirs. He or she is apart of the children's ministry, even though they never ask to be. He or she is expected to go to children's bible study to learn all the rules that grown folk break. He or she gets dressed in the latest clothes for the latest church holiday. The duty of church baby lastsfar longer than being an infant.Baby Girl is 6 but will always be a part of the church baby alumni.

Church babies do get a stipend. This is normally paid out in candy and one-dollar bills. More so candy, than money. Still, not a bad weekly haul. The people who fund these payments are the elders of the church family, Pastor, Church Mothers, and Church Uncles and Aunts. Ever since she was born, Baby Girl has gotten candy and money from these elders. Except for one person. One Church Mother, small in stature, with big glasses and an even bigger smile. She makes payments in the form of books. Ever since Baby Girl was born, this wise Church Mother regularly, and unassumingly, gives her one or two books every few weeks. From church stories to Dr. Seuss.From classics Church Mother read as a kid, to new storiesfor the new ages. Baby Girl loves the books! She looks forward to the books. And when she gets new books from Church Mother, we absolutely have to read them right away.

I love the books too! Beyond the colorful characters and simple adventures, there is always a wise nugget to learn. A bit if knowledge to be bestowed. Something that when I want Baby Girl to understand life, I can refer to one of the many books we read. Question for you: What books of wisdom and knowledge are you giving people? We all make our way through life collecting books; wisdom and knowledge. Have you shared your books with anyone? Younger members of your organization? Of your group? Of your family?

Passing on wisdom and knowledge should come from wise elders and thought leaders, right? When I sometimes feel I have nothing to offer anyone, I remember this statement that was told to me: “To the third grader, the fifth grader is an expert.”You don’t have to know all the answers to life to enrich some else’s life. Give what you have. You have no idea how much someone would enjoy your story. That seeming ordinary story, that can have an extraordinary impact.

 About the Author  

 NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

The Deadlift & Firefighters

Being an avid fitness enthusiast along with multiple fitness certifications, I tend to train numerous times a week with a focus of challenging my body and mind each workout. I tend to focus on overall strength so I’m prepared for the demands of the job at any given notice and also be in the best shape I can be in the process. One of the best overall tests of core strength is the deadlift. We will talk more about what the core consists of and way it is vital to keep this area strong and healthy especially as firefighters.

As firefighters, wearing added pounds of PPE, an SCBA and carrying tools or stretching a hose line are all part of the job. As functional athletes, good posture is important for us to maintain effective and physically strong in the firehouse allowing us to complete our tasks. Unfortunately, the weight of our gear, tools and airpack put a strain on our back, shoulders and affect our posture which could develop into long term issues down the road.

One way we can maintain a good, healthy posture and strength our core, body and maintain proper balance is by focusing on deadlifting. I know what you’re probably thinking, “I’m not a power lifter. I don’t need to do deadlifts”. On the contrary, deadlifts are not just for power lifters.

Deadlifting plays a great role in developing core strength and practical enough to help in your everyday life especially as functional athletes on the fire ground.

As mentioned deadlifting are effective for strengthening your core muscles, which are made up of the central muscles of your body. The muscles that make up the core are your lower back, glutes and abdominal region. All of these muscles in unison will engaged when performing a deadlift.

As a functional athlete and in order to generate maximum power due to the physicality of the job, mostly all movements require the stabilization of your core muscles. In order for your extremities to generate maximum force, you must have stable core muscles.

As firefighters we are frequently required to perform physical labor, from stretching hose lines, raising ground ladders, forcing doors and pulling ceilings. All aspects of using our core muscles. By performing deadlifts, this will develop the muscles and the movements involved in many forms of firefighting.

Normally deadlifting involves lifting heavy weights and therefore they help you develop a strong grip, which is also associated with many physical tasks of firefighting.

When executing a deadlift it is imperative to know your glutes, hamstring and spinal erectors are the primary muscles engaged. However, should you do a knee-bent deadlift I will now engage in using your quadriceps. All the more reason to deadlifts.

It is to be noted deadlifts are intense and require the use your entire body. As such, it is vitally important to warm up thoroughly before engaging in heavier weight lifting. To avoid injury, keep your back straight as you lift, and push with your thighs. Always consult with your physician before getting into physical activities while recovering from any injury or surgery. It may not be the best treatment option after an injury or surgery or may be limited to particular modalities.

​Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

About the Author​

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ as well as NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and currently a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. A martial arts practitioner in Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai as well as a former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor and studying for the Functional Fitness Instructor certification. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

The 10 Minute Workout

One of our biggest excuses for lack of exercise is simple, it’s lack of time. Most of our time is spent working, sleeping, family obligations and friends. Very rarely do people say they have or make time for exercise, which in our profession is very unfortunate since as we’ve said in numerous posts thus far, we are “functional athletes” and need to behave, think and train like one; mentality and physically. 

In order to enjoy our life, our family, friends, combat the stress of the job and continue to feel healthy for the long haul, exercise is essential to this and what I am sharing with you all today is the 10 min work out you can do at home, in the gym, on the go and even in the firehouse alone or with your crew.

Why am I saying all of this?
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, it is recommended to have at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic pace exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. Depending on how hard you work out that will equate to 21 minutes per day of moderate aerobic pace exercise or 11 minutes per day of vigorous exercise.

So here are a few options of the 10 minute workout:

1.    Jogging: This is great for cardiovascular health, lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol and is known to decrease the risk of osteoporosis. The American Council on Exercise states that an individual weighing 180lbs can burn up to 170 calories by taking a 10min jog.
2.    High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): This is my personal favorite and although it burns calories and fat quickly, it is not recommended for beginners. HIIT is a form of interval training and cardiovascular exercise training alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods. This type of workout will challenge your cardiovascular system more than jogging along with added benefits such as increasing your metabolism, improves cholesterol profile and increases insulin sensitivity. A bodyweight HIIT Workout would look something like this: 50 sit-ups, 40 jump squats (or body squats), 30 pushups, 20 split jumps, 10 triceps dips, as many burpees as possible in 30 seconds. You will take a 30 second rest between each exercise in order to perform each exercise with 100% effort. 
3.    Circuit Training: This a great strength training workout due to strength training .Generally strength training requires rest periods between sets for muscle recovery however with circuit training uses antagonistic muscles (when one muscle contracts, the other relaxes, i.e. biceps and triceps) allowing for shorter rest periods An example of this would be as follows: 3 sets of 10 reps.
a.    Pushups
b.    Hollow body hold
c.    Squats
d.    Glute bridges
e.    Bench dips
f.    Plank hold (30-60 sec holds)
4.    Jump Rope: Jumping rope can burn more than 10 calories in a minute and a great way for overall body toning. Here is a quick jump rope workout you can do anywhere. 60 seconds regular jump, 60 seconds rope side to side, 60 seconds single leg (left), 60 seconds single leg (right). The goal is to do this routine non-stop for 2 rounds. If you are new to this, do regular jumps for 60 seconds for 4 rounds with 30 second rests. For the single leg jumps, start with the weaker or less dominant side first. 

So, there you have it. Four different workouts we can do any time, any where for overall health. Incorporate these into your daily life will have you feeling healthier, stronger and battle ready to perform when the alarm goes off.  

Please note: Always consult with your physician before getting into physical activities while recovering from any injury or surgery. It may not be the best treatment option after an injury or surgery or may be limited to particular modalities.

Until next time: work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ as well as NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and currently a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. He has also been elected as a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ from 2008-2011. A blue belt in taekwondo and former collegiate athlete, Nick is currently studying to complete his certification as a TRX Instructor and a Battle Ropes Instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.