UNLV and the North Las Vegas Fire Department (NLVFD) are collaborating on a three-year wellness and fitness program designed to improve the health of the fire department's personnel.
Administered by the UNLV Center for Health Promotion, the comprehensive health program will employ a five-step system to assess and improve both individual and group health levels of the entire department, including captains, chiefs, firefighters, paramedics, and staff.
"Reaching our long term goals for this program will result in healthier, stronger employees who'll be able to work at their highest levels when called," said Terri Tarbett, assistant chief of the North Las Vegas Fire Department. "As a result, the department will be able to respond better to every level of emergency, making the city of North Las Vegas a much safer community."
The initial step of the program will consist of assessment tests that measure physical health levels, including body strength, endurance, and flexibility. With these results, UNLV's team of wellness experts will create customized wellness and fitness plans for each member of the department. After the first six months of the program, UNLV and the fire department will then complete another round of assessment tests to measure the success of the plans and to adjust them if necessary.
Tarbett said the process will be repeated for as long as there are improvements to be made and there are employees willing to make them.
During the program, NLVFD personnel will also have the opportunity to earn university credit through UNLV's peer fitness training program. Those individuals who participate in the program will become qualified peer trainers prepared to help their fellow fire department employees conduct and adjust their individual fitness plans.
"Our goal is not only to help improve the health of department personnel but increase their knowledge about wellness and fitness issues as well," said Chuck Regin, director of UNLV's Center for Health Promotion. "After completing the program, the department's employees will be better equipped, both physically and mentally, to deal with the difficult conditions they work in everyday."
Although the initial plan calls for UNLV and the NLVFD to collaborate on the program for three years, Regin would like to see it continue well beyond that time. "Our team is interested in making this program a model for other fire departments around the country. To meet that goal we plan to be involved with the program for a long time."
A reception celebrating the partnership between UNLV and the NLVFD will be held 2-2:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the North Las Vegas Fire Station #52, located at 4110 Losee Blvd. Individuals scheduled to speak at the event include North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon and NLVFD Chief Robert Dodge.
For more information about the program, contact Regin at 895-4030.
