NJ Cops May 2014 | Page 85

NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MAY 2014 finding the lost kids. He literally had to stop every few minutes to catch his breath even though we were just walking. Needless to say, after this we had a long talk and he realized that he needed to start to get himself in shape. This is just one example of why we need to maintain an adequate level of physical fitness. It is a requirement of the job. How can we be expected to take care of other people when we can’t take care of ourselves? There is a reason why so much time is spent doing PT at the academy level. Believe me, it is not just there for the amusement of the instructors. I’m sure after reading the above example, everyone can think of a similar experience. It doesn’t take a lot of time to maintain your fitness, but it does take some effort. Unfortunately, there are no magic potions available to make someone physically fit. Fitness is always going to be a work in progress. So what exactly does being physically fit mean to those in emergency services? A basic working definition of physical fitness for the purpose of this article means having an adequate level of fitness where a person is able to perform an expected amount of physical labor or exertion without compromising to the point of becoming a liability to others. Simply put, we are not asking our officers to run a marathon or complete a triathlon on a daily basis. The job is demanding; long shifts, extended tours, overtime, court, stress and anything else you can name can drain us. Good physical fitness and conditioning is what we can use to combat these demands. What makes up physical fitness? • Endurance – The ability to perform a physical task for an extended period of time. Think about your last foot pursuit. How did you feel when you finally caught the suspect? Were you winded? And if you had to fight, were you ready? • Power – How much strength do you have? Could you carry your injured partner if you needed to help him? • Agility – Can you move when you need to? Do you have good balance and control of your body in challenging situations? • Flexibility – Is your body limber enough so that you can move? Are your muscles balanced so they can support you? These are just the basics of physical fitness. Which ones do you have and what needs to be improved? Remember, maintaining your fitness is your responsibility; no one can force you to do it. But if you don’t, be prepared to pay the cost. Assuming that you’ve made the decision to get in shape, what are the options? You can always start a physical fitness program of your own. I’m sure that this has worked in the past. How many people have bought treadmills and other exercise equipment only to have them turn into expensive clothes racks in the basement? Many people find it difficult to start and maintain a program, and after the initial effort and, expense they don’t have the knowledge and/or experience to develop an effective program. Another option is to join a gym. This is a popular option with many people. There is usually a lot of expensive equipment available, but depending on the time you go, it may be crowded and the equipment is unavailable. There are always the “professional gym rats” who also offer “great advice” because their program worked for them and they’re sur