At the Glenside Fire Protection District, firefighters know that being in shape will help them deal with emergencies of all kind.



But not only is fitness emphasized in the workout room, proper nutrition now is continually stressed in the firehouse kitchen.



Many fire departments are following the same path: providing time for exercise and making sure that what's served at mealtime is beneficial to the men and women in a most physically demanding profession.



At the Glenside firehouse in Glendale Heights, you'll find 20 part-time and 18 full-time firefighters exercising an hour each shift using rowing and elliptical machines, doing weight training, and running on treadmills.



"During contract negotiations, the union required that they have time to exercise," said Russ Wood, fire chief of Glenside, which serves parts of Glendale Heights and the unincorporated Glen Ellyn Countryside area.



The mandatory exercise sessions began in May 2009.



Before beginning an exercise regimen, each firefighter was evaluated for strength and cardio fitness. Each works with certified peer fitness trainer Jeff Hammond — himself a firefighter — to develop an individualized program, which the firefighters do on their own at the firehouse. Some firefighters also perform the program at home.



"I didn't consider the firefighters to be out of shape, but now I see them as being leaner and being more in shape," Wood said. "I see less fatigue when they go out on emergency calls, and I see fewer strains and sprains. And they're motivated to work out."



Wood and his department are also watching what they eat.



In January, Glenside brought in registered dietitian Julie Sanfilippo, an employee with Aramark, the food service company. Sanfilippo began working on a contract basis with Central DuPage Business Health, a part of Central DuPage Hospital, and had one-on-one consultations with the firefighters about their diets and medical histories.



"I asked the firefighters what they ate on a regular basis: what they ate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and for snacks to see if they had anything like diabetes or high cholesterol that could be improved through a better diet," Sanfilippo said. "I also talked with the firefighters who do the cooking about using a crockpot so that they could use inexpensive cuts of meat that would get tender over time, making stir-fries, and eating more salads. And they definitely seemed receptive to this.



"Though there was a lot of room for improvement in their diets, I thought their diets would be worse," Sanfilippo said. "I also found out that each shift was different, and they had their own individual food preferences."



Sanfilippo will make quarterly visits and she'll also begin writing a monthly newsletter containing healthful recipes and information about nutrition.



"Firefighters have stressful lifestyles, and maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthful diet is important," she said.



Firefighters in Carol Stream kicked off their own nutrition and exercise initiative in February.



"We're making a big effort toward improving our exercise and diet," said Deputy Chief Perry Johnson. "If you look at all of the statistics, the life spans of firefighters are a lot less because of their jobs. So this is a big priority for us."



A certified fitness instructor has come in to evaluate the fitness of the firefighters. He will also be training a firefighter on each shift to lead the other firefighters in exercises, Johnson said.



"We've had speakers come in to talk about nutrition, and we'll also be bringing in some dietitians and chefs to help the firefighters cook and eat better," Johnson added.



At the Flossmoor Fire Department, a group of firefighters and paramedics work out daily in an exercise room, according to Fire Chief Chris Sewell.



"Whenever firefighters go into a burning structure, their body core is elevated and they dehydrate quickly, so it's important for them to keep their heart in good shape," he said.



They're all cooking and eating healthier fare these days.



"They used to eat fattier meats and greasier foods, but now they're eating more vegetables, leaner meats and chicken breasts," said Sewell. "Some of them have even lost weight."



Chicago firefighter Darryl Johnson is health and fitness coordinator of the Chicago Fire Department. He's also a certified peer fitness trainer who travels with other peer fitness trainers to firehouses throughout the city to develop individualized exercise programs.



"We recommend exercises for healthy backs, and exercises for preventing injuries to knees, such as leg extensions, squats and lunges," he noted. "The physical and psychological stress of the job is great, and firefighters are often carrying 300 pounds, or walking up 15 flights of stairs."



Firefighters are mailed articles about health, fitness and nutrition. "We recommend that they eat small meals that will last throughout their shifts and that they eat snacks like rice cakes, oranges and bananas," Johnson said.



In north suburban Highwood, firefighters indulge on Sundays in a brunch of eggs and bacon, but the rest of the week they eat heart-healthy fare including chicken and fruits and vegetables, said Battalion Chief Dave Mohry.



When 4 p.m. rolls around, the firefighters spend 60 to 90 minutes in the exercise area with the free weights and machines, and on the treadmill and stationary bicycle.



"With exercising, the firefighters have clearer minds and more strength to lift heavier equipment," Mohry said. "They're more fit to do their jobs."