Back Injury Prevention for Fire Fighters

Fire fighting is a physically challenging job, even for the fittest of fire fighters. Many fire fighting tasks place excess stress on the back. Unfortunately, when any part of the back is weak, injury can occur. Back injuries are the leading cause of disability and disability retirement for fire fighters.

It is important for fire fighters to learn how to strengthen their backs to minimize the chance of pain, injury and disability. It is equally important to learn proper body mechanics to avoid stressing the back with routine activities. Back Injury Prevention for Fire Fighters, a three-tape video series, is designed to teach fire fighters and other emergency responders valuable techniques to maintain a healthy back.

About Back Function and Exercises

Part One of the series describes the character and design of the spine and explains how many of the muscles in the body work to protect the back. This program cautions that prevention is the key to maintaining a healthy back, and tells how lifestyle decisions will affect the back. Eleven basic exercises are demonstrated which, if performed faithfully, will decrease the chance of back injury.(17:03)

About Correct Posture and Lifting Techniques
Many common activities, both work-related and non-work related, put strain on the back. Proper posture, proper body mechanics and proper lifting techniques avoid excess stress on the spine. Part Two of the series tells how to neutrally align the spine, as well as five important principals to master in order to protect the back when lifting. This program stresses the importance of practicing correct techniques even during leisure activities so that it becomes automatic in times of emergency. (11:58)

About Protecting the Back at Work
The final program in the series is concerned with ergonomics the scientific study of work tasks - as it relates to fire fighting activities. The purpose of this film is to educate and train emergency responders to perform work tasks in a manner which is the least harmful to the back. Proper procedures are demonstrated for the following typical duties: pulling a charged hose, carrying a load upstairs, moving a victim, extricating a victim, rolling a hose, lifting and placing hose, and maintaining the station. (11:45)

About the production
Back Injury Prevention for Fire Fighters was created by medical professionals with the School of Nursing, the School of Health and the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. It was filmed with the assistance of the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. Included with the tapes is a handout which demonstrates the 11 exercises shown in Program One