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