Health and Wellness

The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Academy Program recognizes the impact health and wellness can have on a candidate's training experience. Our goal is to provide information, resources, and support that creates a strong foundation for young professionals.

The Academy Program embraces a holistic approach to health and wellness to ensure candidates receive the necessary resources for their physical and emotional wellness. In addition to daily physical fitness training (PT), instructors deliver education in the areas of resiliency awareness, diet and nutrition, injury mitigation, and preventative health care.

Additional Health and Wellness Resources

Resiliency Awareness and Education:

• Free IFSI Resiliency Training: https://www.fsi.illinois.edu/content/courses/programs/detail/?program=141
• 100 Club of Illinois: https://www.100clubil.org/frontline-resource-network/

Firefighter Nutrition:

• International Association of Fire Fighters Nutrition Guide: https://www.iaff.org/wp-content/uploads/Nutrition/FFNutritionGuide_v6.pdf
• Harvard University - Feeding Americas Bravest Resources: https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/kales-lab/
• Crackyl Magazine - Firefighter Nutrition: https://www.crackyl.com/category/nutrition/
• First Responder Center for Excellence Nutrition Guide: https://firstrespondercenter.org/document/nutrition-considerations-for-firefighters-2/

Physical Fitness:

• Firefighter Functional Fitness: https://firstrespondercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/10-Biggest-Mistakes-Firefighters-Make-with-their-Fitness.pdf
• NVFC Function Fitness Videos: https://firstrespondercenter.org/document/nvfc-functional-fitness/
• FireRescue 1 Workout Plan: https://www.firerescue1.com/wellness-week/functional-fitness-for-the-frontlines-weekly-workout-plan

Hydration:

• Fire Rescue Fitness Recommendations for Firefighter Hydration: https://firerescuefitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FRF-Hydration-Recomendations-FRF-2021-version.pdf
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Rehydration During Suppression Guide: https://firstrespondercenter.org/document/fcfrd-recruit-rehydration-flyer/
• Firefighter Nation Hydration Hacks: https://www.firefighternation.com/health-wellness/firefighter-nutrition/firefighter-hydration-hacks-that-actually-work/

Rhabdomyolysis Prevention:

• Rescue RD Prevention Guide: https://firstrespondercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rhabdomyolysis-Prevention-2.pdf
• Center for Disease Control Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2018-133/pdfs/2018-133.pdf

Preventing Injuries:

• inTime Strategies: https://intime.com/resources/blog/effective-strategies-for-firefighters-to-prevent-work-related-injuries/
• Firehouse Magazine - Injury Prevention: https://www.firehouse.com/safety-health/health-fitness/article/21221557/injury-prevention-in-the-fire-service
• WorkFit Prevention Blog: https://work-fit.com/blog/firefighter-injury-prevention-strategies-and-support/