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| By Sgt. Mark St. Hilaire |
Recently, a citizen’s police academy for pre-teenage kids
was hosted by a law enforcement agency close by. Part of the session was a physical exercise
program to start the day led by a police officer. Another officer made an observation that more
than half the kids participating could not do basic calisthenics, one or two
proper push-ups or keep up with the group in a jog. The same officer noted that his child (who
was in this program) is very athletic and enjoys athletic activities especially
running. He told me that in school, his child is penalized in gym class for
being athletically fit.
I must have
displayed a "WHAT?" look on my face as he explained to me further
that in the middle school, they place heart monitors on the students to gauge
their activity in class. His child is so
fit, she is looked down upon by the teachers who may be under the impression
that she is not doing anything when in fact the child has great fitness stamina
and heart rate.
In case you missed this story released recently by the
group, Mission: Readiness (Military
Leaders for Kids) nearly 1 in 3 young adults are too fat for the military
according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. 1/3 of American kids are considered obese or
overweight.
What is this statistical news telling us of our future first
responder applicants?
Did you know that 34.9% (78.6 million) Americans over age 20
are obese? The Journal of American
Medical (JAMA) indicates that obese is defined as 30% BMI (fat on the
body).
We have seen reports of our active and reserve military
personnel dealing with the weight issues and the problems such as stress
compound injuries to their bodies in the combat zones. Many are being dismissed due to their
inability to maintain fitness during their tours of duty.
Scared yet.... Are you aware that the American Journal of Preventative Medicine reported last year that 40%
of U.S. Police Officers, Firefighters and Security Officers are considered obese
and are considered to be the fattest professions in the U.S. (along
with clergy, engineers and truckers)? This was reported in the Wall Street
Journal and Time among other media sources.
The real questions I
submit to you as a first responder:
- Are you ready to go 100% when it's time to respond, take action on (and off) duty?
- Are you capable of removing others including yourself out of harm's way when situations go bad?
- Do you take pride in your appearance?
- Are you being treated with respect for your position of authority?
- Have you considered the impact of your health on your loved ones and their futures?
We can take the easy- passive way out of the issue by
condoning this problem with a reasoning that it's the way of society, hey-everyone
faces this issue, I'm able to order larger uniforms or have you psychologically
resigned by believing, I DON'T CARE.
We signed on to our profession of wearing a badge whether
our shirt is blue, red, khaki or white to be prepared to help people,
PHYSICALLY and EMOTIONALLY. That means
STRONG BODIES and HEALTHY MINDS.
As an overweight and out of control police officer in my
earlier years who continues to make the necessary changes, I am pleading with
you to consider this:
- You deserve a better quality and standard in life.
- Your co-workers, your community that you serve and especially your family deserve a better you, they are all depending on you.
There is no magic solution and everyone has a different way
of reducing but we as professional first responders need to take immediate
action. First responders are suffering
the serious effects of poor health but more importantly, we swore an oath to
defend and help our communities.
As you consider this call to action, please reflect within
yourself to the real potential you possess inside yourself to change your own
course of action and destiny. Be the change needed, be the example for other
people in our society, especially our younger generations to follow back into
lean, fit (and fighting) machines.
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