| University of Gloucestershire has joined forces with the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) to support and maintain the physical and mental wellbeing of firefighters – enhancing community safety and emergency response services to the communities of Gloucestershire.
The University has become the official provider of annual and pre-employment fitness assessments for all operational personnel at GFRS, to ensure compliance with national standards around aerobic fitness, stamina, strength and coordination and that they are able to carry out their duties safely and efficiently within the community. In addition, the University will provide GFRS with advice and guidance in best practice around the health, fitness and wellbeing of all its operational and non-operational personnel, including in the design of an educational and development programme and the delivery of seminars on the importance of issues affecting firefighters’ health and wellbeing beyond their active service. The project will be delivered by the Sport Science and Exercises team within the University’s School of Education and Science. The project team, led by Professor Athanassios Bissas, comprise exercise physiologists, nutritionists, psychologists and experts in strength and conditioning. The logistical element will be coordinated by the sport science technical team. The collaboration will provide opportunities for University researchers to gain key insights through advanced scientific means that could have wider benefits for the emergency services, including the impact of ongoing occupational stress on operational personnel; the effects of heat and low oxygen on physical health; and the factors affecting occupational performance, such as footwear and clothing, and their interaction with real-life conditions. Mark Preece, Chief Fire Officer of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to work with University of Gloucestershire to support the health and wellbeing of our firefighters. “Ensuring our teams maintain their physical and mental wellbeing is important to allow them to carry out their duties to our communities safely and efficiently.” Cllr Dave Norman, Cabinet member responsible for the Fire Service at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “The health and wellbeing of our firefighters is of paramount importance and I am pleased that we have joined forces with University of Gloucestershire to support this. “It is great that we have been able to work with a local institution like University of Gloucestershire to provide this service.” Athanassios Bissas, Professor of Sport and Exercise Technologies, said: “The University shares the Service’s commitment to ensuring all colleagues have access to high-quality services to support their physical and mental wellbeing and enable them to perform their roles to the highest standards. “The Service’s operational personnel face the most stressful, demanding and dangerous occupational environments when responding to emergencies within our communities in Gloucestershire on a regular basis. “Through our expertise and experience within health and exercise, we look forward to ensuring they are physically and mentally fit to undertake their vitally important duties in the most effective ways possible. “Our collaboration with the GFRS will provide opportunities to identify and monitor via advanced scientific means, including lab testing, all key fitness variables, including blood markers, neuromuscular function, and musculoskeletal imaging. “Going forward, this will help researchers better understand the responses of the body to ongoing occupational stress, and identify any needs for modifying physical training, which could provide wider benefits to the emergency services.” |
