Wilmington firefighters are trying to get into a little better physical shape. This week all city firefighters are taking a physical fitness test that uses firefighting techniques like carrying a person, moving hoses and raising a ladder.
The tests have been required for new members of the department, but now they are required for every uniformed firefighter; all the way up to the chief himself.
Wilmington Fire Chief Buddy Martinette said, "I think at the end of the day it's about us making sure that every firefighter that you see in the uniform have the ability to perform the job, and we want to make sure the public's getting a good service in that regard."
The department plans to make this an annual event to help maintain physical fitness and see how each firefighter compares from year to year.
fitness
Should the City Police and Sherriff's department be next? I think so. How about teachers and DOT workers? I believe that all government workers should be evaluated on their fitness and encouraged toward better health choices since we are paying their healthcare. Lower healthcare costs and greater productivity with come with heathier employees.
I heard they are going to
I heard they are going to come down on some of them teachers included. The more overweight they are, the more their insurance will cost them. Like most insurance pays 80% and the employee pays 20%, it will go to 70/30 and 60/40 etc. depending how overweight the individual is. Another step in cutting health care costs for all of us.