www.siouxfalls.org/fire

16

Professional Standards Continued from previous page

Time Weighted Average (TWA) of exposure limits to outline the duration and levels firefighters are exposed to. This research project will literally save thousands of dollars in preventable hearing loss and days of work missed.

PEER WELLNESS COACHES

muscle injury potential, improve cardiovascular endurance, and reduce potential for sudden cardiac incident. This is a comprehensive assessment that in previous years had been delivered by an outside agency. Investing in our own PWC group to deliver the fitness assessments will, without a doubt, add to the return on investment for SFFR. The PWC group continues to advance their skills in various topics such

The Peer Wellness Coaches (PWC) had another great year of

as nutrition, assessment and evaluation, basic principles

training and education to build this group to the next level.

of strength training, power lift introduction, patient and

In 2017, this group continued their training and education

equipment handling, and developing an effective program

with an outside expert to instruct the 17-member group

based on your work or department schedule. Core

on several topics, but specifically Tactical Professional

concepts address the rotational ability needed for many

Training that focused on the benefits of a comprehensive

tactical professionals. The PWC is a very loyal group that is

health and wellness program and how it can be a cost-

committed to the long-term sustainability of health and

effective program based on worker compensation and injury

wellness for the SFFR members. Each year the members of

reductions. This past year, the Peer Wellness Coaching Group

SFFR participate in the Safety Stand-Down, which consists

delivered the Fitness Assessments to the SFFR members

of reviewing various assigned topics such as firefighter

where they instructed each member on Functional

near-miss events, specific standard operating procedures,

Movement Screening. This strategy is focused on reducing

administrative policies, rehabilitation protocols, and overall

injuries and empowering each member to improve their

wellness. The SFFR organization adheres to National Fire

cardiovascular endurance and musculoskeletal strength.

Service advancements that relate to health and safety and

The PWC group formed a small working group to team

the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. SFFR also improved

up with City IT to develop a Fitness Assessment program that is electronic and utilized on the station tablets. The premise of this concept is to better track each member’s functional movement screening data for their own health and safety goals. The program will provide SFFR the ability to collect aggregate data to support reducing joint and

the Individual Physical Ability Test (IPAT) through the cooperative efforts of the Sioux Falls Firefighters Association, City of Sioux Falls Human Resources and City Attorney, Risk Administration Services (RAS), and South Dakota State University (SDSU). This physical test ensures our current and future members of SFFR are physically fit and capable of handling the extensive physical demands of the career.

PEER SUPPORT TEAM The SFFR Peer Support Team is comprised of six members of the department. These professionals have embraced the importance of Peer Support for the entire SFFR organization. They are change agents who care deeply for each and every member specifically for their social and emotional wellbeing. Social and emotional well-being is one of the five pillars of well-being that the City of Sioux Falls has adopted for the health and safety initiatives. In 2017 the SFFR Peer Support Team worked with one of the leading PST leaders in the country. The