Fire fighting is a physically challenging job, even for the fittest of fire fighters. Many fire fighting tasks place excess stress on the back. Unfortunately, when any part of the back is weak, injury can occur.
Back injuries are the leading cause of disability and disability retirement for fire fighters.
It is important for fire fighters to learn how to strengthen their backs to minimize the chance of pain, injury and disability. It is equally important to learn proper body mechanics to avoid stressing the back with routine activities. Back Injury Prevention for Fire Fighters , a three-tape video series, is designed to teach fire fighters and other emergency responders valuable techniques to maintain a healthy back. This program cautions that prevention is the key to maintaining a healthy back, and tells how lifestyle decisions will affect the back. Proper posture, proper body mechanics and proper lifting techniques avoid excess stress on the spine.