Central York Fire Services (CYFS), in Newmarket, Ont., has been selected as one of 17 departments across North America to join the Wellness-Fitness Initiative (WFI) Task Force, a collaborative effort through the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to improve firefighter health and performance.
This May, the WFI Igniting Change Team visited CYFS as part of a multi-city effort to develop evidence-based wellness and fitness programs for firefighters and emergency medical workers.
In a May 29 statement, CYFS officials said the goal of the WFI is to provide departments “with a holistic system to support the health and wellness of firefighters so they can do their jobs and retire healthy.”
CYFS also says it has been “a leader in implementing WFI practices,” focusing on early detection, intervention, and prevention. One example, CYFS said, is creating a group of 15 peer fitness trainers who can help fellow firefighters and act as a resource on shift.
The current WFI program includes:
- Annual in-depth blood work and consultation with a physician.
- Chest X-rays every five years.
- Annual fitness testing and cardiac screening.
- Diffusing sessions following challenging calls and preventative mental health initiatives.
- Peer-led monthly training on health, wellness, and nutrition.
While the current program has only been in place for the past five years, CYFS has historically taken the lead in advancing health and wellness for its members. In the 1990s, CYFS officials started a fitness assessment program and later implemented the original Newmarket Fire Department task force and fitness certifications, with a similar approach for the Aurora Fire Department (pre-amalgamation).
Acting Captains Amber Bowman and Thomas Johnston (TJ) recently visited Washington, D.C. to represent CYFS, the statement said, and they joined over 100 subject matter experts from fire departments, government agencies and academic institutions committed to sharing their expertise.
CYFS is a full-time department that provides protection to the Towns of Aurora and Newmarket, in York Region, Ontario.