VFIS and the IAFC's volunteer-combination officer section are pleased to announce Avon (Connecticut) Fire Department as the 2018 VCOS-VFIS Illness and Injury Prevention Award recipient.
The Avon Fire Department has successfully undertaken and implemented a comprehensive health and wellness program for all members. It begins with compliant annual physical exams, and includes physical performance qualifications which determine which job tasks each member can and should perform.
Wellness and fitness program
In addition, it includes a wellness and fitness program that focuses on:
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Strength
- Musculoskeletal flexibility
- Overall endurance while responding to the demands of firefighting tasks and daily operations
- Finally, rounding out their wellness plan are four more elements:
- Respiratory protection plan
- Injury prevention program
- Seasonal influenza vaccination program
- Incident and training rehabilitation program.
The award is presented annually to an organization that demonstrates positive success in preventing individual and organizational illness and injury. Avon Fire Department has established a great standard that other fire departments across the nation can imitate to better keep their members holistically healthy.