Published Work

Fit for Duty at 50? Rethinking Firefighter Wellness, Fitness Standards and Operational Readiness

Michael Reily explains how the results of large-scale studies over three decades demonstrate that advanced age takes a significant anatomical toll that directly affects the operational performance of firefighters

For fire departments across the country, wellness is no longer a nice-to-have program—it’s an operational imperative. Healthy firefighters make better decisions in one of the most physically and mentally demanding professions in public safety. The job requires strength, stamina, and sound decision making under the most intense stress. Despite decades of improvements in personal protective equipment, fireground techniques, and medical standards, the fire service has struggled to overcome preventable medical events, behavioral health challenges, and long-term occupational health problems. When your department implements changes, it allows firefighters to work more safely on the fireground and stay in service longer.