Hearts N' Parks helps firefighters get fit.

For the past three years, the South Bend, Ind. Fire Department (SBFD) rookies have participated in a mandatory 20-week health and fitness Hearts N' Parks program at the South Bend Department of Park and Recreation O'Brien Fitness Center. Each January, Fitness Supervisor Elizabeth McKinley implements a personal fitness evaluation and program for each new recruit.

The personal fitness evaluation consists of a standard flexibility test, timed sit-up test, three-minute sub maximal VO 2 test, bench press test, body fat test (with skin fold calipers), and TANITA Body FatTest, resting blood pressure and resting pulse. Along with each personal fitness evaluation, each recruit participates in the Hearts N' Parks pre-data collection survey.

Following each personal fitness test, the SBFD recruits participate in a three-day-per-week exercise and fitness educational session for 20 weeks. Each of the educational exercise and fitness sessions vary depending on the scheduled activity or topic. Sample topics have included: nutrition, basic food groups, cardiovascular disease, blood sugar and cholesterol.

At the conclusion of the 20-week program, the recruits have an improved range of motion, flexibility, lower body fat percentage, healthy Body Mass Index, improved body strength and cardiovascular system, lower resting pulse rate, improved eating habits, and greater awareness of their nutritional needs. At graduation in May, each recruit receives not only a diploma from the South Bend Fire department, but a certificate of successful completion of the NHLBI & NRPA Hearts 'N Parks program and a new healthier self.