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Narrative Statement Project Description . Please provide your narrative statement in the space provided below (1) Project Description, (2) Financial Need, and (3) Cost-Benefit of Request: (1) Project Description The National Fire Protection Association states about one-half of all tine-of~uty deaths of firefighters are not the result of fires, but the result of heart attacks. Taking this statement as our premise, the City of Paris Fire and Rescue Department is proposing a Wellness and Fitness program to be funded through FEMA for 2004. The funds requested will significantly allow our department to better protect the health and safety of our firefighting personnel and the pubtic at large by having a team of firefighters physically. mentally and emotionally fit to attack the hazards of a post 9/11 world. In the Houston Fire Department, WellnesslFitness Program continuing education handout, June 2003, the introduction states, "Every year, statistics show that fire fighting is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. According to the annuallAFF Death and Injury Surveys, the leading occupationally related diseases causing premature departures from the fire service were heart disease and lung disease. Analysis has demonstrated that inactive persons have a 90% higher risk of heart attack than physically active persons. In some departments, medical disability from on the job injuries and illnesses accounts for over 50% of the retirements. According to the IAFF Death and Injury survey, lower back injuries and other sprains and strains accounted for over 50 % of total injuries. Fire fighter injuries caused 9,597 lost work hours per 100 workers. When compared to data compiled for private industry by the United States Bureau of Labor statistics, the IAFF Death and Injury Survey indicates that the frequency of fire fighter job related injuries is 5 times that of workers in private indusby. If this trend continues, more than one out of every three fire lighters will be injured this year. " (http://www.ci.houston.tx.uslhfdlfirefighterslcel2oo3Ijunce44.doc). Thus you can see that over half of the deaths and half of the injuries can be significantly decreased through the implementation and carrying out a wellness and fitness program. The problem with the fire service is sporadic times of ultra high exertion. The old stigma is the image of firefighters laying around the fire station watching TV and eating big meals and waiting for a fire. Bam! An alarm hits and we have to go and perfonn as an Olympic athlete. In fact, many times fire personnel are refiarred to as Occupational Athletes. It is the goal of Paris Fire and Rescue Department to rum both the public and firefighters' lackadaisical perception around and provide a comprehensive plan to allow our personnel to be in top condition to meet the hazards they might face. Most people do not recognize the emotional and physical stress placed upon firefighters as they carry out their job duties year after year. "Each year, IAFF Death and Injury SUiveys demonstrate that fire fighting remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Research has repeatedly shown the need for high levels of fitness to perform safely in the fire service. The firefighters' long hours, shift work, sporadic high intensity work, strong emotional involvement, and exposure to human suffering place fire lighting among the most stressful occupations in the world. High levels of stress, intense physical demands, and long-teRn exposure to chemicals and infectious disease contribute to heart disease, lung disease and cancer-the three leading causes of death and occupational disease disability. Wellness is a personal commitment that all uniformed personnel must make to survive and to sustain a career in the professional fire service. When uniformed personnel are ill or injured, malnourished or overweight, over stressed or out of balance, it affects their ability to effectively do their job." (http://www.ci.houston.tx.uslhfdlfirefighterslcel2oo3ljunce44.doc) Please be assured if you and FEMA allow our department to implement and carry out this wellness and fitness program, we will sustain our commitment to keep this program going for years to come. The Paris Fire and Rescue department is out ofcomptiance with NFPA 1582 and 1583. In order to become NFPA compliant, our department is proposing to utilize the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative OAFFnAFC) to include: . Periodic health screenings; . Entry level physical examinations; . Validate a Candidate Physical Agility Test; . Immunization program; . Formal fitness and injury prevention program, and . Annual incumbent testing after 2 years of program participation. In order to carry out this program our department is requesting $109,708 from FEMA to be matched with $12,189 from